Afrasianet - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday defended Moscow's large-scale military offensive against Ukraine more than three years ago, during his participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit.
"This crisis was not caused by Russia's attack on Ukraine, but by a coup in Ukraine that was supported and caused by the West," Putin said in a speech at the summit in the Chinese city of Tianjin. "The second reason for this crisis is the West's constant attempts to drag Ukraine into NATO," he said.
Putin's speech was a reference to the pro-European revolution in Ukraine in 2013-2014, which toppled pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych.
Moscow responded by annexing Crimea and backing pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.
Putin's speech came at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin, which is attended by about 20 leaders of the Eurasian region. During the opening, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for opposing the Cold War mentality and the policy of intimidation in international relations.
Putin said the world needed "a system that replaces the outdated Eurocentric and Euro-Atlantic order and takes into account the interests of the wider circle of countries."
"We highly appreciate the efforts and proposals of China, India and other strategic partners aimed at contributing to the resolution of the Ukraine crisis," he added.
Putin said he would discuss diplomatic efforts to reach a settlement in Ukraine during a series of bilateral meetings in Tianjin, especially after his summit with his US counterpart Donald Trump in Alaska on August 15.
Shanghai Summit Statement: We reject foreign interference and are committed to fighting terrorism and extremism
In this context, the SCO summit, on Monday, called for "preserving the historical memory of the heroic exploits of peoples and the lessons of World War II."
In a statement, the organization warned that geopolitical confrontations, challenges and threats to security and stability in the world are escalating.
In this context, she stressed "the principles of non-interference in internal affairs and non-use of force, which are the basis for the sustainable development of international relations."
The OIC statement stressed that "the OIC countries adhere to a line that excludes the approach of blocs and confrontation in solving international development problems," noting that they have adopted the OIC Development Strategy until 2035, through which priority tasks are determined.
The SCO also strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms, stressing "the continuation of the joint struggle against terrorism, separatism and extremism."
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is a regional political, economic and security alliance established in 2001, which includes major countries such as China, Russia and a number of Central Asian countries, and aims to strengthen joint cooperation, combat terrorism and extremism, and confront Western influence, especially American hegemony, by supporting multilateralism and rejecting interference in the internal affairs of countries.
China is hosting Russian President Vladimir Putin, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and more than 20 leaders in the current edition of the Shanghai Summit, which will last until September 3.