Russian President Vladimir Putin is wrapping up a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan. On the final day, he is scheduled to hold talks with at least five foreign leaders, including a meeting with UN Secretary-General António Guterres. These discussions will take place alongside broader events such as the BRICS Plus outreach plenary session, which will involve representatives from nearly 40 countries.
Focus on the Middle East
Putin's bilateral meetings will begin with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. The two leaders last met in August during Abbas’s visit to Moscow. This time, they are expected to discuss bilateral relations and the ongoing crisis in the Middle East. The leaders will likely exchange views on measures to halt the bloodshed in Gaza and resume the peace process. Russia has consistently advocated for a political and diplomatic resolution to the conflict, supporting the creation of a sovereign Palestinian state coexisting peacefully with Israel.
The situation in the Middle East has already been a key topic at the BRICS summit. Ahead of the event, the Kremlin indicated that this issue would receive special attention. The final BRICS declaration, adopted on Wednesday, condemned Israeli attacks on humanitarian sites and infrastructure, called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and urged the unconditional release of all hostages.
Southeast Asia as a Priority
Next on Putin's agenda is a meeting with the President of Laos, Thongloun Sisoulith. This will be their second meeting in 2024, following their talks in Moscow in May. The discussions will focus on strengthening bilateral ties and Russia’s cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), where Laos currently holds the chairmanship. Putin has previously emphasized the importance of developing relations with ASEAN as a priority of Russia's Asian foreign policy.
Russia-Africa Dialogue
Putin will then meet with the President of Mauritania, Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, who also chairs the African Union. Ghazouani has visited Russia before, most notably attending the first Russia-Africa summit in Sochi in 2019. The Kremlin has noted that Russia and Mauritania cooperate in economic, cultural, and political spheres, and are preparing several bilateral agreements. Relations between Russia and the African Union have also grown stronger, with trade between Russia and Africa increasing by over 30% in 2023 to reach $24.5 billion.
Partner from South America
Putin will also hold talks with Bolivian President Luis Arce, with whom he last met during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in June 2024. According to reports, Arce plans to discuss a wide range of issues, including nuclear energy, climate change, and cooperation in education. Russia and Bolivia share similar views on key global issues, such as state sovereignty, the rule of law, and security.
Special Guest
A standout meeting in Putin's schedule is his discussion with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who last visited Russia in 2022. Their talks are expected to cover the UN’s activities and pressing international issues, including the Middle East crisis and the conflict in Ukraine. The meeting coincides with United Nations Day, marking the 76th anniversary of the UN Charter coming into force in 1945.
Strategic Partner
Putin’s bilateral meetings at the BRICS summit will conclude with talks with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. Earlier this year, Putin visited Hanoi and met with Vietnam’s key leaders. The two countries continue to strengthen their ties, cooperating on both bilateral and international levels. Their approaches to addressing many global and regional issues align closely, according to the Kremlin.
About the Summit
These scheduled meetings represent only the official engagements on Putin’s agenda. The Russian president is also taking the opportunity to meet with nearly all attending leaders during the summit. Representatives from 36 countries and six international organizations have gathered in Kazan. The summit, which began on October 22, concludes on October 24. On the first day, Putin held talks with the founding members of BRICS—India, China, and South Africa—while Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva joined remotely due to an injury.
Wednesday saw further bilateral meetings with the presidents of Iran, Venezuela, and Turkey, as well as Ethiopia’s prime minister. These discussions were followed by key BRICS sessions, culminating in the adoption of the Kazan Declaration. Putin’s schedule is packed, not only with bilateral talks and general discussions but also with his duties as the summit host, which include welcoming and bidding farewell to guests, moderating dialogue, and ensuring smooth proceedings. On Thursday afternoon, he will conclude the summit with a press conference summarizing its outcomes.
BRICS, founded in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, was joined by South Africa in 2011. As of January 1, 2024, Egypt, Iran, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Ethiopia will become full members of the group. The Kazan summit is one of the largest gatherings of world leaders in Russia in recent years, comparable to the G20 summit in St. Petersburg in 2013 and the Russia-Africa summits held in Sochi in 2019 and St. Petersburg in 2023.
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Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS