Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused Western countries of trying to regain global leadership “by any means necessary”, including through what he described as “unsavoury” methods.
Speaking at a BRICS Business Forum panel in New Delhi on Friday, Putin said fierce competition lay behind corporate success but had increasingly taken on political and state-level dimensions.
He said such measures included physical attacks on or destruction of industrial and logistics facilities and pipelines.
“Attempts are being made to block international transport corridors and seize maritime vessels,” Putin said, also accusing Western countries of imposing restrictions and threatening secondary sanctions.
Putin said more than 30,000 sanctions had been imposed on Russia, which he claimed was almost twice the number imposed on all other countries combined.
He said the pressure had strengthened Russia’s national sovereignty and encouraged Moscow to deepen ties with “reliable, predictable partners”.
Putin said BRICS was ready to cooperate with all partners.
The Russian president arrived in India earlier on Friday for a three-day visit, during which he will attend the 18th BRICS summit on Saturday and Sunday.
