Voice of America reported that U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres attended the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia on October 22, despite criticisms from Ukraine.
The BRICS group – a bloc of countries including Brazil, Russia, India and China, South Africa as well as Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates – will meet in Kazan from October 22-24 for a three day summit. Moscow reports that 36 world leaders will be attending the conference.
Guterres will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin at the event on October 24, according to Yuri Ushakov, a Russian presidential aide.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has criticised the visit of the U.N. Secretary general.
The U.N. Secretary-General declined Ukraine’s invite to the first global summit on peace in Switzerland. “He did accept the invitation from war criminal Putin to Kazan,” the ministry stated on social media.
“This is the wrong choice and does not advance peace.” It only damages the U.N.’s reputation.”
Switzerland hosted Ukraine’s Global Peace Summit on June 15-16. Around 100 countries and organisations were in attendance. The final communique was signed by 78 states and 4 organizations. Since then, a growing number of countries have joined the ever-expanding delegation list.
Guterres has repeatedly criticised Russia for its war on Ukraine. The U.N., along with Turkey, also facilitated the Black Sea Grain Initiative that allowed Kyiv’s agricultural products to be exported. The agreement collapsed when Moscow pulled out of 2023.
Among other leaders, the Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra modi, arrived at this summit. After suffering a serious head injury, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva canceled his trip.
Reuters reported that Russia would try to convince the BRICS nations to create a platform for international payments which is immune to Western sanctions.
Jeffrey Pyatt said that the Biden administration will continue to tighten up the screws on Russia’s LNG imports.
This includes 1,460 casualties that Russian forces have suffered in the last day.
A U.S. intelligence officer said on October 22 that viral attacks against Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz were linked to Russian disinformation groups.
The Financial Times (FT), reported on October 22 that Turkey had quietly blocked the export to Russia of military goods originating in the United States following a warning by Washington.
Radoslaw Sikorski, the Polish Foreign Minister, said on October 22 that “Russia is waging an hybrid war.” “It is trying to sabotage Polish territory.”
According to the U.N. Population Fund, Ukraine has the lowest birth rate in Europe, and the number refugees has risen to 6.7 millions. The full-scale invasion scheduled for 2022 will only exacerbate the already grave decline.
Zelensky, citing military intelligence, said that two brigades from North Korea, each with up to 6,000 soldiers, are currently being trained in Russia. “We expect the world to respond with a firm and concrete response.”
Kyrylo Budanov, the military intelligence chief, said that he was waiting for the first units to arrive tomorrow in the direction of Kursk. He did not specify the number of units.
The leaders discussed Russia’s conflict with Ukraine, the BRICS agenda and bilateral relations. Putin said that Russia hopes to increase its cooperation with China “on all international platforms”.
“I was not going to do that.” I wasn’t going to replace Budanov. Yes, this information was circulated. Zelensky told journalists that there was no question about Umerov.
In accordance with the decree, within three months, working groups are to be formed to verify disability certificates issued by medical examination commissions. If there are any violations, the certificates will be annulled.
A government official from South Korea claimed North Korea sent fighter pilots in Vladivostok in the Russian Far East.
“I am grateful for the trust of the President of Ukraine and Verkhovna Rada. In this situation, however, I think it’s right for me to step down from the position of prosecutor general,” said he.
According to a draft prepared by Italy, this year’s G7 chair, the leaders will issue a statement in October saying “Russia’s assets will remain frozen until Russia ends its aggressive behavior and pays for damage it has done to Ukraine.”
Zelensky, in a conversation with journalists, did not exclude the possibility that “some partners” might consider Ukraine’s NATO membership in exchange for occupied territories. “We don’t discuss this,” he said.
Zelensky, who was speaking at a Kyiv Independent-sponsored meeting, was asked about Pyongyang’s growing support for Moscow. In recent days, it is reported that the support has gone from weapons to boots on ground.
Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, said that Washington also plans to provide $800 millions as a first tranche for the manufacture of Ukrainian drones.
BRICS is a grouping of emerging economies that includes Russia, China, India and Brazil.
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