Russian President talks about shifts in the development of a multipolar world

Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photo: AP​

The corresponding video message addressed to the participants of the meeting of defense chiefs from the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) was published on the Kremlin website. Mr. Putin expressed the opinion that the current meeting is timely and very meaningful.

He stressed that “joint work within the framework of the SCO and the CIS, which is based on mutual respect and consideration of each other's interests, allows for successful resolution of various issues, primarily related to protection against external threats, ensuring global and regional stability”.

"Today, this is especially important: new, severe challenges are emerging, dramatic geopolitical changes are taking place. The outlines of a truly multipolar world order are gradually emerging before our eyes: new centers of development are being formed in Asia, Africa, Latin America, which are increasingly actively defending their national interests, defending their sovereignty, and the right to follow their own development path. It is simply impossible to resist these objective processes of history," Putin said.

In addition, President Putin criticized the West's ambition to maintain dominance on the international stage, which is increasing the risk of conflict.

“The risk of conflict in the world is growing and this is a direct result of the attempts of the Western elites to secure political, financial, military and ideological dominance by any means. They deliberately spread chaos and aggravate the international situation,” President Putin stressed.

President Putin also accused the West of “exploiting” Ukraine and using the people of this Eastern European country as “cannon fodder” against Russia. According to him, the West “continues to supply Ukraine with weapons and ammunition, sends mercenaries, and pushes Ukraine onto the path of self-destruction”./.