Vladimir Putin struggled to contain his anger yesterday as he was challenged by a BBC reporter on his brutal invasion of Ukraine in a press conference that brought his three-day BRICS summit in the Russian city of Kazan to a fiery close.
Since Tuesday, Putin had revelled in his role as host to dozens of world leaders and top officials – including the likes of China‘s Xi Jinping and NATO member Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
He had railed against the West’s ‘perverse methods’ for maintaining global control, accusing Western powers of stifling the growth of emerging economies, manipulating stock markets and ‘aggravating old disagreements’.
His sentiments were widely well received by the attendees, and as Putin headed into his final press conference of the summit yesterday, he appeared in good spirits having enjoyed the attention of a largely captive audience.
But he was brought crashing back to reality by the BBC‘s Steve Rosenberg, who was granted the opportunity to ask the final question of the session.
Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov hinted at what was likely to come when he introduced the broadcaster’s man in Moscow, declaring: ‘For the final question of the day I’d like to give the floor to the BBC… A rare guest these days! Steve Rosenberg.’
Rosenberg duly stood, stepped up to the microphone, and calmly put it to Putin that his war in Ukraine was in complete contravention of the tenets underpinning BRICS – that of justice, regional stability and security, and a fair world.
‘How does this all match your actions of the past two and a half years? The invasion of Russian troops into Ukraine – where is the justice, stability and security?’ he asked.
Rosenberg calmly put it to Putin that his brutal war in Ukraine was in complete contravention of the tenets underpinning BRICS – that of justice, regional stability and security, and a fair world
‘How does this all match your actions of the past two and a half years? The invasion of Russian troops into Ukraine – where is the justice, stability and security?’ Rosenberg asked
Putin was seen furiously scribbling in a notepad as Rosenberg delivered his line of questioning with a stormy look creased across his face before biting back hard
A Russian soldier fires from D-30 howitzer towards Ukrainian positions in an undisclosed location in Ukraine
Rosenberg also pointed out it was not just Ukraine, but Russian citizens, cities and territories that were also feeling the brunt of the war from drone attacks, heavy losses along the frontline and incursions across the border by Ukrainian forces.
Putin was seen furiously scribbling in a notepad as Rosenberg delivered his line of questioning with a stormy look creased across his face before biting back hard.
‘Is it fair that for years our (Western) partners for years ignored our constant appeals not to expand NATO to the East? To lie to our face and violate all their obligations… to get into Ukraine and build military bases?’ he scowled.
He went on to accuse the US of orchestrating and financing a coup in Ukraine in 2014 – a theme central to the Kremlin’s narrative that opposes the White House’s account that the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the subsequent invasion of Ukraine was down exclusively to Russian aggression.
As the conference drew to a close, Rosenberg asked a second question, referring to claims by Britain’s MI5 that Russian agents were ‘creating chaos’ on the streets of Britain.
That appeared to be the final straw for Putin, who audibly laughed, thanked Rosenberg for the question and immediately dismissed it as ‘utter rubbish’.
The conflict in Ukraine came up repeatedly throughout the three-day summit in Kazan that was attended by leaders or representatives of 36 countries, highlighting the failure of US-led efforts to isolate Russia with sanctions and political manoeuvring.
The summit also saw the first visit to Russia from United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in more than two years and drew an angry reaction from Kyiv.
Guterres called for ‘a just peace’ in Ukraine, in line with the UN Charter, international law and General Assembly resolutions. He also urged an immediate end to the fighting in Gaza, Lebanon and Sudan.
At a news conference Thursday night, Putin was asked about former US President Donald Trump’s promise to end the fighting in Ukraine.
‘What Mr Trump said recently, what I heard, (is) he spoke about the desire to do everything to end the conflict in Ukraine,’ Putin said.
‘It seems to me that he said it sincerely. We certainly welcome statements of this kind, no matter who makes them.’
Putin also was asked about whether any North Korean troops were in Russia, which he neither confirmed nor denied.
The US said Wednesday that 3,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to Russia and are training at several locations, though Ukraine and South Korea have suggested as many as 10,000 may be there.
‘Images are a serious thing, if there are images, then they reflect something,’ he said when asked about satellite photos of troops in a cryptic, if somewhat incredulous response.
Putin did note however that lawmakers in Moscow earlier in the day ratified a pact with North Korea on mutual military assistance as part of a ‘strategic partnership’ with Pyongyang.
‘We have never doubted that the North Korean leadership takes our agreements seriously. What and how we will do within the framework of this article (of the agreement) is our business,’ he said.
President of Russia Vladimir Putin answers the questions of the press members at a press conference held as part of the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia on October 24, 2024
Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, greets United Nations (UN) Secretary General Antonio Guterres
Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, greets United Nations (UN) Secretary General Antonio Guterres during their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan
Officials, including South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa (R), Russian President Vladimir Putin (C) and China’s President Xi Jinping (L), attend a plenary session in the outreach/BRICS Plus format at the BRICS summit in Kazan
Russian servicemen firing a BM-21 ‘Grad’ self-propelled 122mm multiple rocket launcher system towards Ukrainian position
Russian President Vladimir Putin and participants in the outreach/BRICS Plus format meeting posing for a family photo during the BRICS summit in Kazan on October 24, 2024
Besides the conflict in Ukraine, the summit covered the deepening of financial cooperation, including the development of alternatives to Western-dominated payment systems, efforts to settle regional conflicts and expansion of the BRICS group of nations.
The alliance that initially included Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa when it was founded in 2009 has expanded to embrace Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, with Saudi Arabia yet to formally announce its inclusion.
Turkey, Azerbaijan and Malaysia have formally applied to become members, and several other countries have expressed interest in joining.
The Kremlin touted the summit as ‘the largest foreign policy event ever held’ by Russia.
Speaking at what was dubbed the ‘BRICS Plus’ session, which included countries that are considering joining the bloc, Putin accused the West of trying to stem the growing power of the Global South with ‘illegal unilateral sanctions, blatant protectionism, manipulation of currency and stock markets, and relentless foreign influence ostensibly promoting democracy, human rights, and the climate change agenda.’
‘Such perverse methods and approaches – to put it bluntly – lead to the emergence of new conflicts and the aggravation of old disagreements,’ Putin said.
‘One example of this is Ukraine, which is being used to create critical threats to Russia’s security, while ignoring our vital interests, our just concerns, and the infringement of the rights of Russian-speaking people.’
Russia has specifically pushed for the creation of a new payment system that would offer an alternative to the global bank messaging network SWIFT and allow Moscow to dodge Western sanctions and trade with partners.
In a joint declaration Wednesday, participants voiced concern about ‘the disruptive effect of unlawful unilateral coercive measures, including illegal sanctions’ and reiterated their commitment to enhancing financial cooperation within BRICS.
They noted the benefits of ‘faster, low-cost, more efficient, transparent, safe and inclusive cross-border payment instruments built upon the principle of minimizing trade barriers and non-discriminatory access.’
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping hold glasses during a festive reception of the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024
Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un meet in Pyongyang, June 19, 2024
Russian soldiers fire a Giatsint-S gun toward Ukrainian positions near Kursk
Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) speaks with Chinese President Xi Jinping (2-L) as other participants in the outreach/BRICS Plus format meeting pose for a family photo during the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia
China’s President Xi Jinping has also emphasised the bloc’s role in ensuring global security.
Xi noted that China and Brazil have put forward a peace plan for Ukraine and sought to rally broader international support for it. Ukraine has rejected the proposal.
‘We should promote the de-escalation of the situation as soon as possible and pave the way for a political settlement,’ Xi said.
Putin and Xi had announced a ‘no-limits’ partnership weeks before Russia sent troops into Ukraine in 2022.
They already met twice earlier this year, in Beijing in May and at a Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Kazakhstan in July.
Russia’s cooperation with India has also flourished, as New Delhi has seen Moscow as a time-tested partner since the Cold War despite Russia’s close ties with India’s rival, China.
While Western allies want New Delhi to be more active in persuading Moscow to end the fighting in Ukraine, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has avoided condemning Russia while emphasising a peaceful settlement.