Most Dangerous Countries Highlighted as Putin Warns Western Troops in Ukraine Mean War With Russia
At the BRICS summit in New Delhi, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that any deployment of Western troops to Ukraine would mean war with Russia, while rejecting claims that Moscow threatens European countries in the context of most dangerous countries.
Putin's Warning on Ukraine Troop Deployment
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that discussions about deploying foreign troops to Ukraine would effectively amount to a declaration of war against Russia. [1] Speaking on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit, Putin remarked, "Now they are talking about how they are thinking about bringing troops to the territory of Ukraine. This means war with Russia." [1] Addressing suggestions that Russia poses a threat to European nations amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, the Russian leader firmly rejected the notion. [1] "There is no such threat, and there has never been. We are not threatening European countries, nor are we going to threaten them. Why would we?" Putin said. [1] He argued that there was no basis for any dispute between Russia and Europe, stating that all outstanding matters had been resolved following the second world war. [1]
BRICS Summit Context and Agenda
Leaders of the BRICS nations are meeting in New Delhi for a summit focused on trade, investment and global conflicts, as the bloc seeks a bigger role in shaping the global agenda for emerging and developing countries. [4] Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is hosting Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and counterparts from the other eight BRICS members. [4] The summit comes as wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, along with rising US-China tensions, test the bloc’s ability to find common ground among countries with competing geopolitical interests. [4] BRICS was founded in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India and China, with South Africa joining in 2010. [4] It has since expanded to 11 members, representing about half the world’s population and a significant share of global economic output. [4] The group has increasingly called for greater representation for developing countries in global institutions. [4] The leaders are expected to discuss economic cooperation, energy, food security, technology, supply chains and reforms to global institutions. [4] Reducing reliance on the US dollar will also be a priority, with members promoting greater use of their own currencies in trade and payments. [4]
Modi's Bilateral Engagements
PM Narendra Modi met his Malaysian and Ethiopian counterparts, Anwar Ibrahim and Abiy Ahmad Ali, on the sidelines of the BRICS summit. [3] Government sources said that meetings resulted in taking India’s relations with both countries on a new trajectory, as Malaysia and Ethiopia expressed their keenness for stronger defence cooperation with India. [3] Joint personnel training as well as defence procurement from India was discussed, according to Indian officials. [3] “Both countries welcomed Indian industry and Investment. Ethiopia welcomed Indian mining companies. Opportunities in the semiconductor industry were discussed with Malaysia,” said a source. [3] According to an official readout, Modi and Ibrahim took stock of the outcomes of Modi’s visit to Malaysia in February 2026 and reviewed progress in bilateral cooperation across a range of areas, including trade and investment, defence and security, semiconductors, infrastructure, digital economy, energy, fintech, education, tourism and people-to-people ties. [3] In the meeting with the Ethiopian PM, the leaders discussed further strengthening the bilateral Strategic Partnership. [3] The meeting built on Prime Minister Modi’s historic visit to Addis Ababa in December 2025. [3] Prime Minister Modi walked hand-in-hand with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian as leaders gathered for the BRICS Business Forum in New Delhi, underscoring India’s effort to maintain ties with Iran while deepening strategic partnerships with the United States and other global powers. [5]
European Political Shifts Noted by Putin
Putin also commented on the recent rise of Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which topped the state election in Saxony-Anhalt earlier this month. [1] He described the current state of affairs across Europe as the outcome of "systemic mistakes" made by the West in the fields of politics, security and economics. [1] "Everyone makes mistakes. We have made quite a few mistakes ourselves, as has the rest of the world," Putin acknowledged, before adding that the West's "globalists" had, since the end of the Cold War and the fall of the Soviet Union, come to see themselves as being at the "top of Olympus", believing both that they could act without constraint and that they were incapable of error. [1] According to exit poll figures released by German broadcaster ARD and reported by Al Jazeera, the AfD won 44.5 per cent of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt, more than double the 18.5 per cent secured by Chancellor Friedrich Merz's centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU). [1] This marks the first time since the Second World War that a far-right party has come first in a German state election. [1]
Niger Junta Reshuffle After Mutiny Attempt
Niger’s junta chief appointed a new chief of staff, state TV reported on Friday, after a thwarted army mutiny last month shook his grip on power. [2] Supporters of the military government put down the attempted uprising with the help of Russian mercenaries, but not before intense fighting in the capital. [2] Disgruntled soldiers attacked several sensitive sites in Niamey and hunkered down in a key military base at the airport. [2] “By a decree signed on September 11, 2026, General Abdourahamane Tiani has appointed Brigadier General Mamane Sani Kiaou as chief of staff of the armed forces,” state TV reported in a statement as saying. [2] Kiaou, who previously served as army chief of staff, replaces General Moussa Salaou Barmou. [2] Tiani also appointed General Abdourahmane Abou Zataka to succeed Kiaou as army chief of staff, the statement added. [2] Tiani has moved the country closer to Russia and away from Western partners, notably former colonial power France. [2] State television had previously broadcast accusations that France was behind last month’s uprising. [2]
Outlook for BRICS Unity
The summit comes as wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, along with rising US-China tensions, test the bloc’s ability to find common ground among countries with competing geopolitical interests. [4] For India, the summit highlights its effort to maintain strategic ties with Russia and Iran while deepening relations with the US and Europe. [4] New Delhi has sought to balance its longstanding partnerships with Moscow and Tehran with efforts to expand economic, defense and technology ties with Washington and other Western nations. [4] India has maintained close ties with both Moscow and Tehran despite the war in Ukraine and tensions between Iran and the US, while calling for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve conflicts. [4] Modi met Putin and Pezeshkian separately in New Delhi on Friday ahead of the summit. [4] Modi and Xi are expected to hold talks later Saturday, a meeting that could help consolidate a diplomatic thaw between the two countries after border tensions escalated in 2020. [4] A key test for India will be whether it can secure a joint statement from leaders at the summit. [4] Those divisions were evident in May, when BRICS foreign ministers failed to agree on a joint statement over the Iran war, forcing India to issue a chair’s summary instead. [4]
What to watch next: Modi and Xi are expected to hold talks later Saturday that could help consolidate a diplomatic thaw, while the bloc continues discussions on expanding use of national currencies in trade.
