The association Brics, which largely consists of dictatorships or countries with a significant democratic deficit, has previously criticized the "Western hegemony" that leads to what they call a power-hungry world domination.
The process of forming a multipolar world order is underway, a dynamic and irreversible process, says Putin to the leaders of the Brics countries when the meeting opens on Wednesday.
"Contribute more actively"
Many countries at the Brics meeting have expressed "a desire to contribute more actively" to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, a desire that Putin welcomes, says Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on the sidelines of the summit, reports Russian state media.
In talks during the meeting, Putin has, according to Peskov, highlighted what he claims is "the very positive dynamics on the front of the Russian armed forces".
The EU is urging the Brics leaders to tell Putin to "immediately end the war" in Ukraine.
We trust that all participants at the summit in Kazan will use this opportunity to once again urge Putin to immediately end the war against the Ukrainian people, says EU spokesperson Peter Stano.
Guterres on site
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has arrived in Russia to also participate in the summit. According to Guterres, he will on site "confirm his well-known positions on the Ukraine conflict", but his visit to Russian soil has been criticized by Ukraine's Foreign Ministry.
Shortly after Russia launched its large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Guterres called for an immediate ceasefire, which was not heeded by Russia.
At the summit in Kazan, Guterres will meet with several leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, which will be their first meeting in over two years.
The original so-called Brics countries are Brazil, India, China, South Africa, and Russia, but they have since been expanded to include, among others, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, and Iran.
