Putin blames the West for Ukraine war at SCO summit

In Tianjin, China, on September 1, 2025, leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization met for an annual summit. Russian President Vladimir Putin used the platform to assert that the war in Ukraine was not initiated by Russia but was a consequence of a coup in Ukraine backed by Western powers. He emphasized that the conflict was exacerbated by Western attempts to have Ukraine join NATO, which he claims poses a direct threat to Russia's security. Several leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, were present at this gathering, reflecting the growing diplomatic ties among the member states. Xi Jinping highlighted the challenges posed by a chaotic international situation and stressed the need for the SCO, which includes countries like India, Iran, and Pakistan, to enhance cooperation and develop a robust multilateral framework. He proposed the establishment of an SCO Development Bank to improve economic collaboration among member states. This summit was marked by the attendance of notable leaders and served as an opportunity for Xi to present himself as a representative of the Global South, advocating for economic stability in the face of Western policies. Despite the gathering being a show of solidarity against the West, it faced criticism from Ukraine, which condemned the summit for its silence on Russia's ongoing invasion. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry pointed out that the main document from the summit failed to mention the invasion, deeming it a shortcoming in how the SCO addressed global challenges. Ukraine expressed the need for a more active role from China in mediating peace and highlighted that the lack of condemnation of Russia's actions reflected poorly on the SCO's position as a body aiming for international stability. The summit coincided with increasing geopolitical tensions and the rhetoric surrounding the conflict in Ukraine. As the world's focus remained on the ramifications of the war, the SCO appeared to reinforce an alternative power structure in opposition to traditional Western alliances. Both Xi and Putin's speeches underscored their desire to promote multilateralism and challenge the Eurocentric global order, framing their alliance as a partnership that aims to counter Western influence in global affairs.