RIGHT STEP IF TRUMP ACCEPTS OFFER TO VISIT MOSCOW, SAYS PUTIN
BRICS Russian leader’s move to invite US counterpart on May 9 sparks buzz at Brazil summit; BRICS nations slam protectionism in joint declaration
BRASILIA: Russian President Vladimir Putin said it would be a “right step” if US counterpart Donald Trump accepts his invitation to attend the upcoming May 9 military parade in Red Square commemorating the 75th anniversary of the end of World War 2.
“The presence of the leader of a country which made a major contribution to the fight against Nazism at a ceremony marking the end of World War 2, even amid a pre-election campaign, would be a right step,” Putin told reporters in Brasilia on Thursday on the sidelines of a summit of BRICS leaders from Russia, India, China, Brazil and South Africa.
The Russian leader warned that the overthrow of Bolivia’s socialist president, Evo Morales, and the chaos that it has sparked reminded him of events in Libya following the ouster of Muammar Qaddafi in 2011.
“There’s no functioning government, there’s no direct foreign intervention, but the country is on the verge of chaos,” he said, describing the events as “a worrying signal” for the wider Latin American region.
BRICS NATIONS TAKE A SWIPE AT US POLICY
Five of the biggest emerging economies railed against protectionism on Thursday as they vowed to overcome “significant challenges” facing multilateralism, in a swipe at US tariffs and unilateral action.
The joint declaration by the BRICS countries came on the second day of the annual gathering, which Brazilian host President Jair Bolsonaro used to boost ties with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.
“Trade tensions and policy uncertainty have taken a toll on confidence, trade, investment and growth” in the global economy, said Bolsonaro, as he read out the declaration. “It is critical that all WTO members avoid unilateral and protectionist measures. We reiterate the fundamental importance of a rulesbased, transparent, non-discriminatory, open, free and inclusive international trade.”