Russian President Vladimir Putin inaugurated the BRICS meeting with Global South countries by calling for an end to violence in the Middle East and warning of the risk of large-scale war. Putin mentioned that military actions in Gaza have spread to Lebanon and that the confrontation between Israel and Iran has increased, placing the region on the brink of a major conflict.
Putin lamented the loss of more than 40,000 lives in Gaza, mostly civilians, and advocated for correcting the historical injustice suffered by the Palestinian people, considering that peace in the Middle East depends on it. He emphasized the importance of the two-state solution as key to peace and stability in the Palestinian territories, supported by UN resolutions.
Regarding Ukraine, Putin denounced that the country is being used to create critical threats to Russia's security. He proposed reforming the UN Security Council to include countries from Africa, Asia, and Latin America, during a conversation with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who was present at the meeting.
Putin warned that without resolving the issue of creating a Palestinian state, violence in the region will continue in a vicious cycle, keeping the population in constant crisis and facing large-scale violent confrontations. Leaders from BRICS member countries, as well as representatives from nations aspiring to join this group and other neighboring states like Venezuela and Bolivia, also participated in the meeting.
