During the second day of the BRICS summit held in Johannesburg on August 23rd, 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed his country’s involvement in the conflict in Ukraine. He stated, “Our actions in Ukraine are driven by one thing, the desire to end the war instigated by the West and its satellites in Ukraine”.
The 15th BRICS summit continued on this Wednesday, marking the penultimate day of discussions at the Johannesburg conference center.
The leaders of the five-member countries—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—once again took the floor in the morning to outline their vision for the bloc’s future. These discussions were set against the backdrop of the conflict in Ukraine, with each leader referencing it in their manner.
As expected, President Vladimir Putin took advantage of his remote appearance from Moscow to justify Russia’s military involvement in Ukraine. He argued that the conflict was sparked by “the West and its satellites against the inhabitants of Donbass”.
Although prevented from attending in person due to the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) mandate, this summit served as an opportunity for the Russian leader to demonstrate that he is not isolated and still garners support from some of his partners. Notably, he found an ally in the South African president, who responded after Putin’s speech, suggesting that negotiation is the most effective way to end the war—an avenue for which Putin had previously indicated his readiness.
Cyril Ramaphosa inadvertently slipped during his address, stating that the “BRICS family” is “strongly engaged with Russia”, before swiftly correcting himself to “with Africa”.
The Brazilian head of state, Lula, expressed, “We are ready to join efforts that contribute to an immediate ceasefire and lasting peace”.
During the afternoon, the five leaders continued their discussions in a closed session, away from the media’s gaze. Among the topics on the table was the possible expansion of the BRICS grouping.