In his first international visit since last month’s brief armed revolt, President Vladimir Putin assured Asian leaders of Russia’s stability and unity on Tuesday.
“The Russian people are consolidated as never before,” Putin said at a virtual Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting that included China and India.
“Russian political circles and the whole society clearly demonstrated their unity and elevated sense of responsibility for the fate of the Fatherland when they responded as a united front against an attempted armed mutiny.”
Putin’s emphasis on Russia’s unity at a summit with key allies demonstrated his eagerness to restore his global power after Wagner mercenary founder Yevgeny Prigozhin’s brief revolt late last month.
Wagner forces gained control of a southern city and marched on Moscow on June 24, posing Putin’s greatest challenge since becoming Russia’s leader on December 31, 1999.
Alexander Lukashenko’s arrangement ended the rebellion. Putin hailed his soldiers and security forces for preventing civil war.
Putin praised SCO members for their assistance “to protect the constitutional order, the lives and security of citizens” in his speech.
He said Russia would resist Western pressure, sanctions, and “provocations” over its “special military operation” in Ukraine.
He added Moscow would strengthen SCO connections and encourage local currency foreign trade settlements.
Russia sees China, India, and Iran, the SCO’s newest member, as important allies in opposing U.S. global dominance.
Putin warned the conference that developed countries’ debts and declining food and environmental security fueled a new global economic and financial disaster.
“And all these problems, each of which is complex and diverse in its own way, in their totality lead to a noticeable increase in the potential for conflict,” he said.
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