On the eve of the meeting At the BRICS summit, Indian President Narendra Modi told Russian President Vladimir Putin that he wants peace in Ukraine and that Delhi is ready to help broker a truce to end Europe's deadliest conflict since World War II, Reuters reported. , quoted by BTA.
Putin, who ordered tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022, wants the BRICS summit to show the growing influence of the non-Western world after the United States and its European and Asian allies sought to isolate Russia because of the war.
Russia expects 22 leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, who arrived in Russia earlier today, to attend the BRICS summit. The countries whose leaders are expected to attend the meeting make up 45 percent of the world's population and 35 percent of the world's economy.
Putin, branded a war criminal by the West, thanked the Indian prime minister for accepting an invitation to visit Kazan, a city on the banks of the Volga River and capital of the Republic of Tatarstan, and said Russia and India share a "privileged strategic partnership".
Modi thanked Putin for his "strong friendship", praised the growing cooperation and development of BRICS, but also said that India believed the conflict in Ukraine should end peacefully.
"We are in constant touch on the subject of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine," Modi said. "We believe that problems should be solved only by peaceful means,", he added.
"We fully support the speedy restoration of peace and stability. All our efforts are directed towards humanity. India is ready to provide all possible support in the future," the Indian Prime Minister emphasized, adding that he would discuss these issues with Putin.
During the meeting between Putin and Xi Jinping, the two also discussed the crisis in Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced, but did not give further details.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi thanked Russian leader Vladimir Putin for Russia's support for Egypt's accession to the BRICS group and expressed agreement with the idea of turning the group into a platform capable of confronting modern crises on the world stage, reported TASS, quoted by BTA.
"First of all, let me express my gratitude to you for Russia's support for Egypt's accession to BRICS, as well as for the efforts your country is making in the year of its presidency of the group," Al Sisi said at a meeting with the Russian president on the sidelines of the BRICS summit taking place in Kazan. He added that "Egyptian representatives participated in many events organized by Russia during this period, the main one being the current BRICS summit in Kazan.
Ass Sisi also said that Egypt "supports the aspiration to turn the BRICS group into a platform that can counteract the negative consequences of the current international crises".
The Egyptian president advocated the activation of the mutual investment process within BRICS, "without any external restrictions". As Sisi also emphasized the importance of developing bilateral trade and economic relations between the member countries of the group, "especially between Egypt and Russia".
Al Sisi and Putin also pointed to the need to immediately reduce the escalation in the Middle East region, which threatens with dangerous consequences for the security of the whole world, according to a statement issued by the office of the Egyptian head of state after the talks between the two leaders .
"During the talks, the presidents agreed that de-escalation in the Middle East is of paramount importance due to the negative implications of the current crisis for regional and international security," the statement said.
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Source: www.bta.bg