Russian President Vladimir Putin urged the leaders of Brazil, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) to increase cooperation in the face of the “selfish actions” of the West. 

In televised remarks at the BRICS leaders’ virtual summit, referring to the Western sanctions that pummeled Russia, Putin said that "only on the basis of honest and mutually beneficial cooperation can we look for ways out of this crisis situation, which developed in the global economy because of the ill-conceived, selfish actions of certain states." 

He said the countries "using financial mechanisms, in fact, shift their own mistakes in macroeconomic policy onto the whole world," adding that "we are convinced that now, more than ever, the leadership of BRICS countries is needed to develop a unifying, positive course towards the formation of a truly multipolar system of inter-government relations."

Furthermore, the Russian President noted that BRICS nations "can count on the support of many Asian, African and Latin American states striving to pursue an independent policy."

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Washington and Brussels have hit Moscow with exceptional sanctions since the beginning of the Russian operation in Ukraine on February 24. This pushed Moscow to seek new markets to satisfy its needs for both, exports and imports, in countries distant from the collective West such as Asia and Africa. 

On the eve of a virtual BRICS summit

Russian President Vladimir Putin called for closer ties with the influential BRICS club of emerging economies on Wednesday, June 22, amid unprecedented Western sanctions imposed over Ukraine.

"Businessmen of our countries are forced to develop their business under difficult conditions where Western partners neglect the basic principles of market economy, free trade, as well as the inviolability of private property," Putin told a BRICS business forum via video link.

Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned "the permanent implementation of new politically motivated sanctions" that contradict "common sense and basic economic logic."

It is worth noting that the Russian President has been defiant in the face of Western sanctions, seeking new markets, not to mention strengthening ties with African and Asian countries.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Putin stated that talks were ongoing regarding the "opening of Indian chain stores in Russia and increasing the share of Chinese automobiles" on the Russian market.

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