Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed comments by U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump on his ambition to end the Ukraine conflict, calling them “sincere” as he wrapped up a BRICS summit in Kazan on Thursday, October 24.
Trump has previously voiced skepticism over the billions of dollars Washington is funneling into Ukraine and claims he could end the conflict “in a matter of hours” if elected.
“He [Trump] spoke about his desire to do everything to end the conflict in Ukraine. I think he is being sincere. Of course, we welcome statements like this, whoever they come from,” said Putin, who faced pressure from allies at the BRICS summit to find a path to peace in Ukraine.
Putin reiterated his position that any peace deal must recognize Russia’s control over significant areas of Ukrainian territory.
“We are ready to look at any proposals for peace negotiations that are based on the realities on the ground. We won’t accept anything else,” he said, reiterating that Moscow views Western expectations of defeating Russia on the battlefield as an “illusion.”
The three-day summit of the BRICS bloc, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, was attended by leaders or representatives of 36 nations.
The presence of high-ranking officials, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, underscored the difficulty U.S.-led sanctions campaigns have faced in isolating Russia.
At the summit, Putin signaled a willingness to consider peace proposals, including those from BRICS nations, with some leaders expressing a strong desire for the fighting to cease.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, visiting Russia for the first time in over two years, urged for “a just peace” in Ukraine that aligns with the UN Charter and international law. He also called for an immediate halt to ongoing conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon, and Sudan.
The summit was marked by strong calls to end escalating violence in Gaza and Lebanon. Xi Jinping stressed the need for BRICS nations to serve as a “stabilizing force for peace” amid serious global challenges, calling for a renewed two-state solution to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian crisis and warning against the spread of war.
In response to Guterres’ presence, Russian opposition figure Yulia Navalnaya took to social media to criticize the UN leader for meeting with Putin.
“It was the third year of the war, and the UN Secretary-General was shaking hands with a murderer,” Navalnaya posted on X, sharing an image of Putin greeting Guterres.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, also attending the summit, accused Israel of attempting to drive civilians out of Gaza by depriving them of resources. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian called out the UN Security Council, accusing international bodies of inefficiency in handling such crises.
