Russian President Vladimir Putin has joined the plenary session of the group’s 17th summit via videolink
© Global Look Press / XinHua / Claudia Martini
Russian President Vladimir Putin is delivering a speech at the plenary session of the 17th BRICS summit. The annual two-day gathering of the group kicked off on Sunday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which currently holds the group’s rotating presidency.
This year, the Russian delegation is led by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Putin has joined the plenary session – ‘Strengthening Multilateralism, Economic-Financial Affairs, and Artificial Intelligence’ – via videolink.
Brazil has named six priorities for this year’s agenda – global health cooperation; trade, investment, and finance; climate change; AI governance; reform of the multilateral peace and security system; and institutional development within BRICS.
This year’s summit brings together around 4,000 participants from 37 nations, including senior dignitaries from member states, partner countries, and international bodies.
BRICS was founded, primarily as an economic group, in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, with South Africa joining in 2010. Over the past year, the bloc extended full membership to Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia.
Last year, at the group’s summit in the Russian city of Kazan, BRICS approved a new ‘partner country’ status in response to a growing membership interest shown by more than 30 countries.
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06 July 2025
15:52 GMT
The BRICS nations are continuing to expand cooperation “in key areas of politics and security, economics and finance, cultural and humanitarian contacts,” Putin has said, expressing hope that the summit will be fruitful.
“I believe that the final declaration of the Rio de Janeiro summit, which has been prepared for approval, creates a good foundation for our further joint work in the traditional BRICS spirit of continuity and equal cooperation,” he added.
- 15:32 GMT
The BRICS member states have been increasingly using national currencies in trade operations between each other, the Russian president has said.
“The use of national currencies in trade between our countries is steadily growing. In 2024, the share of our national currency, the ruble, and the currencies of friendly countries in Russia’s settlements with other BRICS countries amounted to 90%.”
- 15:17 GMT
BRICS has been built on “mutual respect,” bringing together peoples of different cultures and religions, Putin has said, adding that the group now includes the “leading countries of Eurasia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America.”
“BRICS has many like-minded people among the countries of the Global South and East. They are impressed by the culture of open partnership and cooperation, mutual respect, and consideration of each other’s opinions that has developed within the association,” he added.
- 15:11 GMT
The world is currently undergoing “drastic changes,” as the liberal globalization model is continuing to lose its footing, giving way to an emerging global economic system, Putin has stated.
“The unipolar system of international relations, which has been serving the interests of the so-called ‘golden billion’, is becoming a thing of the past, succeeded by a more just multiplayer world,” the Russian president has said.
- 15:02 GMT
The BRICS nations account for around 40% of the world’s economy, with their combined GDP reaching $77 trillion, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said. The group’s global influence has been growing steadily every year, he added.
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