A BBC journalist has provoked an intense response from Russian President Vladimir Putin at the BRICS summit for emerging economies.
BBC Russia Editor Steve Rosenberg was granted the opportunity to quiz Putin during a press conference, and chose to ask about how Russia’s actions over the past two years matched a declaration made by the BRICS countries for global security, stability and justice.
It was the first time a journalist from the British organization has been allowed to directly question the Russian leader since Putin’s troops invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
Putin flipped the question on its head and accused Western countries of aggressively expanding the North American-European alliance NATO east towards Russia.
“In terms of security, is it fair that for years our constant appeal to partners not to expand Nato to the east have been ignored,” he asked. “Is it fair to lie to our face, promising that there will be no such expansion and violating their obligations and their promises to do that? Is it fair to get into our underbelly, like into Ukraine, and start building, not just preparing but building, military bases?
He accused NATO of “disregarding international law” and “financing a coup” in Ukraine, while “pushing the situation for it to develop into a hot phase.”
He finished his criticism, which lasted several minutes, by saying: “There is no justice here. We want to change this situation, and we’ll achieve it,” and then addressed a second part of Rosenberg’s question, which regarded MI5, the British intelligence service, claiming Russia was deliberately attempting to create “sustained mayhem on British and European streets.”
“Well, this is utter rubbish,” said the Russian leader.
You can watch part of the exchange here via the BBC’s YouTube channel.
