Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to participate in the plenary session of the 20th annual meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club. The theme of this year's meeting is "Fair Multipolarity: How to Ensure Security and Development for Everyone."
The Valdai Forum serves as a platform that brings together Russian and foreign experts specializing in political, economic, cultural, and humanitarian research. The 20th-anniversary meeting of this discussion club is taking place in Sochi from October 2 to 5 and has attracted the participation of 140 experts, politicians, diplomats, and economists from 42 countries across Africa, Eurasia, North America, and South America.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has maintained a tradition of meeting with participants of the Valdai International Discussion Club since its founding in 2004. The inaugural conference was held in Veliky Novgorod near Lake Valdai, from which the forum derives its name. During these conferences, experts engaged in discussions with the head of state at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence.
Starting from 2014, the Valdai Club's meetings have been held in Sochi. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the event was relocated to Moscow, with President Putin participating via video link. A similar arrangement was made for last year's meeting, which was also conducted in the capital.
President Putin's interactions with Valdai Club participants typically involve extensive discussions covering a wide array of global topics, including world politics, economics, and other current issues. The conference enjoys significant respect among experts and the general public, Putin noted.
During last year's Valdai Club meeting, President Putin engaged in a lengthy discussion with participants, speaking for over 3.5 hours, with his keynote speech lasting 42 minutes. Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary of the Russian head of state, later praised Putin's address, indicating that it would be regarded as one of his most significant speeches.
In his speech, Putin touched on several critical topics, including Western policy and the crisis of liberalism, the nuclear threat, and the domestic situation in Russia. He emphasized that Russia has never viewed itself as an adversary of the West and has extended offers for peaceful coexistence in the past, even though these proposals were met with rejection. The president underscored that Russia cannot be eliminated from the geopolitical landscape and that no external entity can dictate the type of society or principles it should adopt.
President Putin stressed the importance of the West recognizing that "he who sows the wind will reap the storm," highlighting the need for equal dialogue regarding a shared multipolar future.
Additionally, the Russian leader addressed the impact of the special military operation (SMO) in Ukraine on Russia's situation. He asserted that the SMO demonstrated Russia's resilience, even in the face of sanctions, and revealed the country's strength and unity. Putin noted the broad consensus within Russian society on the necessity of addressing external threats, with the most challenging economic challenges posed by sanctions having been overcome.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS