In a pivotal BRICS summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Russian President Vladimir Putin held discussions dominated by the Ukraine war, signaling deep divisions even as they sought to promote the bloc’s expansion. Meeting in Kazan, Russia, the leaders grappled with balancing geopolitical ambitions and economic cooperation against the backdrop of global conflict.
Putin opened the summit by touting the interest of over 30 countries seeking to join BRICS but emphasized the need for caution to maintain the group’s effectiveness. Xi, behind closed doors, addressed the war in Ukraine with Putin, while Modi publicly urged peace, adding to the diplomatic complexities.
As BRICS—a bloc that now represents 45% of the world’s population and 35% of the global economy—debated its future growth, the war in Ukraine loomed large. China and Brazil have pushed peace proposals, though Ukraine accuses them of siding with Moscow. The summit’s final communique is expected to touch on these contentious proposals, highlighting the widening gap between Russia and Ukraine’s peace efforts.
With major leaders like the UAE’s President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed and Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian attending, the summit marked a turning point in BRICS’ evolution, but the shadow of war and geopolitical tensions remains.
