Russian President Vladimir Putin warned in New Delhi on Friday that deploying European troops to Ukraine would amount to war with Russia, while insisting Moscow poses no threat to Europe. Speaking ahead of the Sept. 12–13 BRICS summit, Putin accused Western governments of trying to weaken Russia and said European leaders were steering their countries toward confrontation. He linked political shifts in Europe, including the victory of the rightwing AfD in Saxony-Anhalt, to what he called systemic failures by Western elites. Reuters reported that the AfD won about 44% of the vote in the German state on Sept. 6. Moscow has repeatedly rejected European plans for a force in Ukraine after a ceasefire; in a January warning, Russia said peacekeepers would be treated as “legitimate combat targets.” BRICS has 11 members and is chaired by India in 2026. Its New Delhi summit is expected to focus on trade, security and reform of global governance.
