Brazil In the shadow of the Ukraine war, Putin invites to the Brics summit
Two and a half years after his order to attack Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin is hosting allied and neutral states at the summit of the so-called Brics group.
Until Thursday, 24 foreign heads of state and government are expected in Kazan, the capital of the Muslim-dominated republic of Tatarstan on the Volga. The abbreviation Brics stands for the initials of the first five members of the group of emerging industrial nations: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
The most important guest in Kazan is Chinese head of state Xi Jinping, with whom Putin will hold bilateral talks on Tuesday. According to Putin's advisor Yuri Ushakov, 36 countries are represented. Ukraine will also be a topic in the Kremlin leader's talks with guests such as UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Ushakov announced.
Meanwhile, Western countries are seeking further aid for Ukraine, which has been attacked by Russia. During a visit to Kiev, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin pledged military aid worth 400 million US dollars (almost 370 million euros). The UK confirmed its share of a 50 billion US dollar loan for Ukraine, which is to be secured by interest income from frozen Russian assets. The loan was agreed in June by the seven major Western industrialized nations of the USA, Canada, the UK, Italy, Japan, France and Germany (G7).
Putin sees Brics as a counterweight to the G7
With the Brics group, Putin wants to stand up to the G7 states in particular. He sees the group of states as an opportunity to break the dominance of the USA in international politics and establish a new multipolar world order. Following the founding members, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Ethiopia and Iran have now also joined the group of states. NATO member Turkey wants to participate in Kazan as an interested party.
At the summit, Russia hopes to promote financial cooperation in particular. An alternative to the Western system of financial data exchange, Swift, and the establishment of a joint bank are the main aims, Putin announced before the summit. However, not all Brics members follow the Kremlin leader's anti-Western course. Countries such as India and Brazil maintain foreign policy and economic cooperation in many directions.
Brics states with their own roles in the Ukraine war
Hardly any of the countries represented have condemned the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. Iran even supports Russia militarily, while China provides Russia with backing and access to weapons-grade technology. At the same time, Brics members China, Brazil and South Africa have each made their own proposals for an end to the fighting in Ukraine. However, none of them deviate much from the Russian position; for Kiev, the proposals are all unacceptable. The United Arab Emirates has mediated the exchange of prisoners between Russia and Ukraine several times behind the scenes.
The summit in Kazan, which has been dressed up for the occasion, is taking place under enormous security precautions. Parts of the city are cordoned off for the conference. In order to empty the streets during the summit, children were sent on extended vacations and many employees were sent to work from home.
USA arms Ukraine with 400 million dollars
US Defense Secretary Austin met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyi and Defense Minister Rustem Umyerov in the Ukrainian capital. "I traveled to Ukraine for the fourth time as Secretary of Defense to show that the United States, along with the international community, continues to stand with Ukraine," Austin wrote on the X platform. Putin's war endangers European security, he said in Kiev.
According to the US Department of Defense, the new package includes ammunition for Himars rocket launcher systems, artillery ammunition and mortar shells. Additional armored personnel carriers, small arms and related cartridges will also be provided. From a military and financial perspective, the USA has been the most important supporter of the Eastern European country since the start of the war in February 2022.
More than two billion pounds from London for Kiev
The UK is planning a loan of 2.26 billion pounds (around 2.71 billion euros) for Ukraine, according to the British news agency PA. It is to be financed with profits from frozen Russian assets. This is the British contribution to the 50 billion loan package agreed by the G7. The money could be used for air defense systems, artillery and other military equipment. Finance Minister Rachel Reeves has promised Ukraine her country's unwavering support.
Zelensky calls on soldiers to persevere in Kursk
Selensky called on his soldiers to hold out on the conquered bridgehead in the Russian region of Kursk. Contrary to many reports that Russian troops were pushing the Ukrainians back there, Zelenskyi said in a video message: "We are holding our ground and I thank every soldier for their bravery." He had discussed the situation with Commander-in-Chief Olexander Syrskyi and Chief of General Staff Anatoly Barhylevych.
"We must not forget that the Kursk operation serves a strategic purpose. The war must return to the area from which it started," said Zelensky. With the surprise advance at the beginning of August, Ukraine had brought the ground war onto Russian territory for the first time.
SDA
