October 25th 2024.
Next up, the smile on Vladimir Putin's face quickly disappeared as BBC reporter Steve Rosenberg bravely raised a question regarding the state of justice, stability, and security in Russia amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. It was a risky move to challenge the Russian leader's imperialistic ambitions, but Rosenberg, the editor of BBC Russia, did not hesitate during the press conference that marked the end of the three-day BRICS summit in the city of Kazan.
The final question was introduced by Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov, who smirked as he acknowledged that the BBC was not a frequent guest these days. With determination, Rosenberg stepped up to the microphone and asked Putin to justify the invasion of Ukraine, which has been ongoing for three years now. In fluent Russian, he added, "Before the special military operation, there were no drone attacks on Russian territory, no shelling of Russian cities, and no foreign troops occupying our land. But now it's a different story."
The president's expression turned into one of anger as he listened to the journalist's question, which was being broadcasted live on television. Putin did not take kindly to Rosenberg's bold inquiry and responded by stating that Nato's expansion in Eastern Europe, specifically in Ukraine, was a violation of Russia's security. He went on to question the fairness of these actions, asking, "Is it fair to ignore our constant appeals to our partners not to expand Nato to the east? Is it fair to break promises and obligations? Is it fair to invade our neighboring country and build military bases there?"
Rosenberg also brought up recent reports from MI5, the British intelligence agency, which suggested that Russian sabotage groups were planning to cause chaos on the streets of Britain and Europe. The head of MI5, Ken McCallum, had recently stated that Russian agents were responsible for various disruptive actions in Britain, all in support of Ukraine. However, Putin simply dismissed these allegations as "utter rubbish."
The BRICS summit, which started in 2009 with just four members, has now expanded to include other emerging nations such as South Africa, Egypt, and Iran. This year's summit was a success, with the presence of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Nato member Turkey's president, Tayyip Erdogan, who has shown interest in joining the group. India and China also used the summit as an opportunity to strengthen their ties.
For Putin, the fact that so many world leaders were present at the summit in Kazan was a significant diplomatic win. It countered the narrative that his country was facing isolation from the global economy. According to Alicia Garcia-Herrero, a senior fellow at the Bruegel economic think tank, "This is a clear signal that the West is losing power, and they are not fully grasping its importance."
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