In a pointed rebuke, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday accused the United States of deliberately escalating tensions in Asia, a move he claims directly threatens both Russia and its close ally, China. The Russian leader’s remarks come amidst a backdrop of heightened geopolitical tensions and a deepening rift between Moscow and Washington.
Putin laid the blame for the deteriorating US-Russia relationship squarely at the feet of American sanctions, arguing that these measures have had detrimental consequences for the US itself. He pointed to a growing global skepticism towards the US dollar’s dominance, citing the reduction of dollar reserves by traditional American allies as evidence. “The entire world is thinking if the Dollar is worth using…Even the traditional allies of the US have reduced their Dollar reserves…The US is late by some 15 years, they won’t be able to stop the Chinese development,” Putin stated.
Turning his attention to the BRICS group, Putin asserted that a unified currency for the bloc is not yet a practical reality. He emphasized the need for a higher level of integration among member countries before such a move could be considered. Instead, he advocated for a gradual approach, emphasizing Russia’s commitment to bolstering the BRICS bank.
Putin’s clear intention is to elevate BRICS – which has recently expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates alongside its founding members Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa – as a powerful counterweight to Western influence in both global politics and trade. While acknowledging the bloc’s growing significance, he maintained that BRICS is not explicitly “anti-West” but rather “non-West.” Putin also extended an open invitation to potential new members, emphasizing the economic benefits they stand to gain from joining the expanding bloc.
When questioned about a potential timeline for the end of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Putin cautioned against setting a specific date, considering it counterproductive. His remarks come on the heels of the US announcing new sanctions against several Russian and Chinese entities allegedly involved in the production and delivery of attack drones used in the Ukraine conflict. The US sanctions targeted two Chinese companies – Redlepus Vector Industry Shenzhen Co. Ltd. (Redlepus) and Xiamen Limbach Aircraft Engine Co Ltd. – along with TSK Vektor and its General Director, Artem Mikhailovich Yamshchikov.
According to a US senior official, the sanctions are part of a continuous effort to disrupt the flow of advanced weapons technology and components to Russia. “We will continue to impose costs on those who provide support to Russia’s military-industrial base,” the official asserted. They went on to highlight the clear link between the targeted entities and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, stating, “They are involved in producing and shipping items that are unmistakably part of Russia’s war against Ukraine and are going directly to an actor that the West has already identified and sanctioned as being part of the Russian military-industrial base.