Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and other world leaders on Wednesday at the BRICS summit in Kazan, as part of Russia's effort to challenge Western dominance on the global stage. Putin emphasized deepening financial cooperation within BRICS, alongside addressing regional conflicts and expanding the bloc's membership.

BRICS, initially comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has now expanded to include Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, with more countries like Turkey and Malaysia expressing interest in joining. The summit, attended by representatives from 36 nations, marks a significant diplomatic push by Russia amid its ongoing conflict in Ukraine and Western sanctions.

The Kremlin framed BRICS as a counterbalance to the Western-dominated world order, particularly since the Ukraine war began in 2022. One key goal for Russia is the establishment of an alternative payment system to bypass SWIFT and mitigate the impact of Western sanctions.

Putin held bilateral meetings with Xi and Modi ahead of the summit. In his discussions with Xi, both leaders reaffirmed the strength of their “no-limits” partnership, with Xi calling their relationship a stabilizing force in global affairs. Putin praised the deepening ties, emphasizing cooperation in multilateral forums.

India's relationship with Russia remains strong, with Modi positioning New Delhi as a neutral player, calling for a peaceful settlement to the Ukraine war without condemning Moscow. Western nations have urged India to take a more active role in resolving the conflict, but Modi has maintained a diplomatic stance.

Putin is also scheduled to meet UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, marking Guterres' first visit to Russia in over two years, where global peace and stability will likely dominate the discussions.

Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and other world leaders on Wednesday at the BRICS summit in Kazan, as part of Russia's effort to challenge Western dominance on the global stage. Putin emphasized deepening financial cooperation within BRICS, alongside addressing regional conflicts and expanding the bloc's membership.

BRICS, initially comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has now expanded to include Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, with more countries like Turkey and Malaysia expressing interest in joining. The summit, attended by representatives from 36 nations, marks a significant diplomatic push by Russia amid its ongoing conflict in Ukraine and Western sanctions.

The Kremlin framed BRICS as a counterbalance to the Western-dominated world order, particularly since the Ukraine war began in 2022. One key goal for Russia is the establishment of an alternative payment system to bypass SWIFT and mitigate the impact of Western sanctions.

Putin held bilateral meetings with Xi and Modi ahead of the summit. In his discussions with Xi, both leaders reaffirmed the strength of their “no-limits” partnership, with Xi calling their relationship a stabilizing force in global affairs. Putin praised the deepening ties, emphasizing cooperation in multilateral forums.

India's relationship with Russia remains strong, with Modi positioning New Delhi as a neutral player, calling for a peaceful settlement to the Ukraine war without condemning Moscow. Western nations have urged India to take a more active role in resolving the conflict, but Modi has maintained a diplomatic stance.

Putin is also scheduled to meet UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, marking Guterres' first visit to Russia in over two years, where global peace and stability will likely dominate the discussions.