The key facts
- Putin links the difficulties of the transition to multipolarity with opposition from countries unwilling to give up their former methods of influence
- The plenary session listed areas of cooperation: energy, industry, agriculture, transport, peaceful nuclear energy, AI, cybersecurity, space
Speech at the Russia — Africa forum
Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking at the Russia — Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum, said that the formation of a multipolar world order is not going smoothly and is meeting resistance from states unwilling to accept the new reality. According to him, the obstacles are created by countries that are 'used to thinking with a colonial mindset' and 'fantastically — fantastically indeed — enriching themselves at others' expense', reports Life.ru. In the Russian leader's view, such actions indicate the unwillingness of certain states to accept changes in the world system and to abandon their former approaches to international relations.
Context of the speech
Earlier, the same outlet reported on the start of Putin's speech at the forum's plenary session. There, the president outlined the main areas of Russia's cooperation with African states: energy, industry, agriculture, transport, peaceful nuclear energy, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and space. Thus, the statement about resistance to multipolarity was made within a broader speech on the agenda of Russian-African cooperation.
