Vladimir Putin warns of worsening conflict in the Middle East as 'multipolar' Brics summit concludes

UN chief calls for 'immediate ceasefire' in Gaza during address to leaders of emerging economies at summit in Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin said there was a need to create conditions to resolve the situation. Reuters

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Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that the situation in the Middle East is worsening and that his country is ready to take on the challenge of reducing tensions to ease worldwide fears of spreading war.

“We are concerned by events in the Middle East,” he told a closing press conference of the Brics bloc. “We don't want conflict to worsen. We will only have more problems on our hands if this happens.”

Mr Putin said Moscow is close to Iran, but the need is to create conditions to resolve the situation. “We see Russia's role in settlement of conflict in the Middle East,” he said.

“Naturally, people are afraid of exacerbation of the global situation that has to do with escalation in different conflict zones, in the Middle East, in Ukraine. But we are not the ones doing the escalation. It's the other side that's always doing this escalation.”

Mr Putin touched on US and Ukrainian reports that North Korean troops were being sent to fight in Ukraine, but only said what the two countries did within the framework of articles in the mutual defence back was their business.

Also on Thursday, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres told Brics leaders – including the Russian leader – the world needed peace in Gaza, Lebanon, Ukraine and Sudan.

Mr Guterres told the summit of major emerging economies, including the UAE, in Kazan, south-west Russia, that “across the board, we need peace”.

“It takes a community of nations – working as one global family – to address global challenges,” the UN leader said in his opening remarks.

He called for peace in the Middle East, saying there was need for an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza and an “immediate cessation of hostilities” in Lebanon, as well as an end to the Russia-Ukraine war.

“We need peace in Ukraine. A just peace in line with the UN Charter, international law and General Assembly resolutions,” said Mr Guterres.

He has been critical of Moscow's offensive and military annexation of Ukrainian territory but there has been no halt in the fighting, now grinding through its third year.

The UN Secretary General was in Russia for the first time since April 2022. Ukraine has condemned Mr Guterres's decision to visit Russia, branding Mr Putin a “criminal”.

The three-day summit also covered deepening financial co-operation, including the development of alternatives to western-dominated payment systems, efforts to settle regional conflicts and expansion of the Brics group of nations.

The alliance comprised Brazil, Russia, India and China when it was founded in 2009, with South Africa joining in 2010. In 2024, it expanded to include the UAE, Iran, Egypt and Ethiopia, with Saudi Arabia yet to officially join, but participating as an invited nation. Turkey, Azerbaijan and Malaysia have formally applied to become members, and several other countries have expressed interest.

After the UN chief ended his speech, Mr Putin said: “Mister General Secretary said that we should all live as one big family. In families, unfortunately, there are often quarrels, scandals, division of property, and sometimes even fights.”

“The goal of Brics is to create the necessary mechanisms of interaction and create a favourable atmosphere in the common home,” he added.

Leaders at the summit have also called for peace in Gaza and Lebanon.

Chinese President Xi Jinping warned about “serious challenges” in the world, and said he hoped Brics countries could be a “stabilising force for peace”.

“We need to continue to push for a ceasefire in Gaza, relaunch the two-state solution and stop the spread of war in Lebanon. There should be no more suffering and destruction in Palestine and Lebanon,” Mr Xi said.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian criticised the UN Security Council's role in front of Guterres, saying international bodies “lack the necessary efficiency to extinguish the fire of this crisis”.

And Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Israel aims to “empty” the Gaza Strip of Palestinians.