Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday quoted PM Modi and said that the Brics is not “anti-West”, but is just “non-West”, just days before the 16th Brics Summit scheduled in his country.
“BRICS was never meant to be against anyone. The Indian Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) said that BRICS is not an anti-western group, it is a non-western group,” said Putin.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in Russia‘s Kazan from October 22-23 to participate in the 16th BRICS Summit.
Putin also said that Brics is open to accepting new members and that even countries that are not part of the grouping will experience economic advantages as it continues to grow and develop during a meeting with international journalists in Russia.
Russian President also expressed uncertainty regarding the timeline for Russia’s win over Ukraine in the ongoing conflict, however, he said that the Russian forces are ready to fight till the victory.
The Russian president further said that the Russian soldiers are also getting equipped with technologically advanced weaponry.
He also thanked PM Modi for his consideration in this matter. “While talking with PM Modi, each time he raises this matter and expresses his considerations. We are thankful to him for that,” said Putin.
He also announced that Moscow will find some common ground and promote Indian films when asked if Russia will give incentives to Brics memeber states for shooting of films in the country.
“If we look at Brics member states, I think in this country Indian films are most popular. We have a special TV channel with Indian movies being shown on it round the clock. We have a lot of interest in Indian films. We hold BRICS film festival. This year Moscow International Film Festival introduces films from BRCIS nations. We are positive that if India films are interested then we will find some common ground and promote them in Russia. Pharmaceuticals will also be a good undertaking. I am ready to talk to Prime Minister of India and we will come to terms and there will be no difficulty,” said Putin
Additionally, Putin announced that Kremlin would not allow Ukraine to acquire nuclear weapons. He said that any attempt by Ukraine to obtain nuclear weapons would be easily detected and would trigger an appropriate response from Russia. “Russia will not allow this to happen, no matter what,” he said to reporters.
Putin’s statement came after Ukraine’s leader mentioned that since Kyiv had given up its Soviet-era nuclear arms, it must be admitted into NATO.
Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had told US presidential candidate Donald Trump that Ukraine needed either nuclear weapons or NATO membership for its security. However, since Ukraine had relinquished its nuclear weapons following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, joining NATO was the only way it could deter Russia.
Zelenskyy later clarified that he had never said Ukraine was preparing to build a nuclear weapon, stating, “We don’t do nuclear weapons. Please, don’t move these messages.”
After the breakup of the Soviet Union, Ukraine inherited nuclear weapons but voluntarily gave them up in the 1990s in exchange for guarantees of its territorial integrity. Ukraine now claims that Moscow violated this agreement by invading its land.