From Ukraine War to SCO Summit: Putin’s Defiant Global Stance

Russian President Vladimir Putin is carrying a defiant global stance from the battlefields of Ukraine to the diplomatic tables of the SCO Summit. His pre-summit remarks connect the Western response to the war—namely, sanctions—to a broader struggle over the future of the world order.
He explicitly lashed out at the “discriminatory” sanctions imposed by the US and EU due to the war, framing them not as a targeted response but as an illegitimate tool of economic coercion. This narrative seeks to shift the focus from Russia’s actions to the West’s methods.
In this struggle, Putin positions China as Russia’s most critical ally. He highlighted their “unprecedented” relationship, booming trade, and joint opposition to sanctions as proof that Russia is not isolated. This partnership is presented as the foundation of a resilient, non-Western bloc.
The SCO summit is the platform where Putin will formalize this defiant stance, seeking to rally support for his vision of a “fairer, multipolar world.” The goal is to demonstrate that despite Western pressure, Russia remains a powerful player at the center of a rising coalition of Eurasian powers.