Translated by Valeria D’Alessandro
On October 24, the sixteenth the BRICS summit concluded in Kazan, Russia, an event described by the Kremlin as “the greatest political event ever organized in the country.” BRICS – an acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa – welcomed new member earlier this year, including Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, UAE, and Saudi Arabia, expanding the original group. Several additional countries have expressed interest in joining this evolving international coalition. At the end of the summit, several countries were recognized as “official partners”, though not yet as full members: Algeria, Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.
The summit was open by Vladmir Putin, who stated that “a new bipolar world” is emerging, which he believes will end Western hegemony. Through summit, Putin aimed to highlight what he considers the failure of Western policies, declaring his intent to work toward building a “democratic world order” and reducing the “dollarization” of the internation economic system. One of the main topics discussed during the summit was criticism to the U.S. for using the dollar as a “weapon” to pursue politic objectives at the expense of international transactions.
During the summit, the Russian President also addressed the situation in the Middle East, stating: “The hostilities in Gaza a year ago have spread to Lebanon, drawing in other countries in the region, while clashes between Israel and Iran have drastically escalated. All of this is a chain reaction that is pushing the entire Middle East to the brink of total war.” He added: “Addressing the historical injustice against Palestinian is essential for ensuring peace. The cycle of violence will not be broken until this issue is resolved.”
Vladimir Putin meets UN Secretary-General António Guterres in Kazan
The most controversial event of the summit was the meeting between UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Russian President Vladmir Putin, which took place at the end of the summit. This was their first meeting since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine war. Guterres reaffirmed to the Kremlin leader that “Russian invasion of Ukraine violates the United Nation Charter and international law.” He also emphasized, as stated by his spokesperson in New York, that “establishing freedom of navigation in the Black Sea is of fundamental importance for Ukraine, Russia, and for global food and energetic security.”
How have relations between the UN and Russia changed from 2022?
Immediately after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the UN General Assembly swiftly passed a resolution condemning the invasion, with support from 141 out of 193 member countries, declaring the attack a violation of the United Nation Charter. However, the Security Council was unable to approve a similar resolution due to Russia’s veto as a permanent member. This block was accompanied by abstentions from other countries like China, India and the UAE, highlighting fractures among Council members and the complexity of international geopolitics. The situation also underscored the challenges the UN faces in delivering a decisive response to major conflicts involving members with veto power.
From the early months of the conflict, António Guterres sought to focus the UN’s effort on protecting civilians and providing humanitarian assistance, condemning indiscriminate bombing and the devastating impacts of the war. Additionally, he expressed concern about the refugee crisis, which, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, has affected millions of people. Moscow has strongly criticized the UN, arguing that the organization was aligning with Western positions and expressing growing discontent with what it perceives as partially influenced by a Western agenda. This accusation of factionalism was accompanied by a defense of Russia’s miliary action, framed as a necessary response to alleged “abuses” committed by Ukraine against Russia-speaking populations in the Donbass region.
A key moment in UN mediation was the Black Sea grain agreement, negotiated by Guterres and Turkey to ensure a safe passage for Ukrainian wheat export along maritime routes. This agreement was crucial for global food safety, as Ukraine and Russia are major wheat suppliers worldwide. However, Russia later withdrew from the agreement, citing restrictions on its own agricultural exports. Guterres has continued to advocate for a renewal of the agreement, repeatedly urging all parties to honor the original terms.
In 2023, Guterres consistently sought to maintain dialogue with Putin, despite escalating tensions between Russia and the West. His determination culminated in a meeting during the BRICS summit, where he continued to emphasize the importance of constructive engagement. This dialogue has faced strong criticism, particularly from Western countries, which view a lasting agreement as unlikely due to Moscow’s resistance to honoring international resolution. In response, Russia has argued that its objectives in Ukraine include protecting minorities and “denazifying” the Ukrainian government – a stance the UN has largely contested.
BRICS Summit as an attempt to reopen dialogue between Russia and UN
The meeting between Vladmir Putin and António Guterres at the BRICS Summit in Kazan marked a significant moment in the dialogue between Russia and UN. Guterres emphasized the importance of freedom of navigation in the Black Sea, essential for ensuring wheat exports and global food security, while Putin denounced Western hegemony and the use of the dollar as a political tool. This meeting could potentially pave the way for renewed cooperation, though the divergent positions of both sides may still pose obstacles to reaching a concrete agreement.
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