JOHANNESBURG – Russian President Vladimir Putin has again justified Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine as the BRICS Summit talked peace, as well as plans for a new world order.
Putin is the only one of the five BRICS leaders not in South Africa for the meeting of emerging economies amid fears of an arrest after the ICC issued an arrest warrant for war crimes against him.
While Moscow launched a fresh attack on Ukraine more than a year ago, the conflict dates back several more years
Appearing on a video link, Putin told delegates at the BRICS Summit that he blamed the West for backing him into a corner.
“Some countries promote their hegemony and their policy of their ongoing colonialism and neocolonialism. I would like to note that their aspiration to preserve their hegemony in the world led to a dire crisis in the Ukraine.”
South Africa is among a delegation of African countries that sought to quell tensions during a peace talk mission in Russia and Ukraine in June.
Putin said Moscow’s move was purely defensive, again rallying BRICS leaders behind him.
“Our actions in Ukraine is only guided by one thing – to put an end to the war by Ukraine on the people in Donbas. We thank our colleagues within BRICS that have taken an active part in the attempts to put an end to the situation and to ensure just settlements through peaceful means.”