Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Saudi Arabia could serve as an acceptable location for potential peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. However, he emphasized that any negotiations would be contingent upon Ukraine lifting its ban on engaging with Russia.
In a press conference held ahead of the upcoming BRICS summit, Putin expressed Russia’s readiness for dialogue with Kyiv, reiterating the need to base discussions on the agreements reached during the 2022 Istanbul talks.
Highlighting the strong diplomatic ties between Russia and Saudi Arabia, Putin praised King Salman and noted his “strong personal relationship” with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. He expressed confidence in the sincerity of Saudi Arabia’s mediation efforts.
The 16th annual BRICS summit is set to occur in Kazan, Russia, next week, featuring discussions among the original five member countries—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—as well as the inaugural meeting of new members Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the UAE.
During the briefing, Putin indicated that the ongoing Israel-Palestine crisis would be part of the agenda at the summit. He reiterated the Kremlin’s support for a two-state solution and mentioned his communication with officials from both Israel and Palestine. Furthermore, he extended an invitation to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to attend the summit.
Putin also revealed that around 30 additional countries have shown interest in collaborating with BRICS nations, stating that the alliance is “open to everyone.” He echoed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s sentiments, clarifying that BRICS is “not an anti-Western alliance, just a non-Western alliance.”
