The Russian president highlights unity on global issues at St. Petersburg meeting.
On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia and the countries that make up the post-Soviet Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) support the formation of a new multipolar world.
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“All CIS countries unanimously advocate the formation of a more just world order based on the universally accepted principles of international law, with the United Nations playing a central role,” Putin said at the opening of the group’s informal summit at the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg.
He emphasized the importance of the nine member countries maintaining close or coinciding positions on the main regional and global issues.
Putin also highlighted cooperation among the countries in the fight against terrorism, extremism, organized crime, and drug trafficking. In that regard, he referred to existing CIS programs, including an anti-terrorism program in force through 2028 and a border defense program for the bloc through 2030.
‘ALL CIS countries advocate for a JUST world order based on generally recognized principles of intl law’ — Putin https://t.co/0aUcuFUGWv pic.twitter.com/kCa5Mxdr4u
— RT (@RT_com) December 22, 2025
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev did not attend the meeting because of his busy schedule. The Azerbaijani presidency, however, recalled that he did take part in the CIS Council of Heads of State meeting held in October in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, where he met with Putin.
Aliyev has not traveled to Russia since the scandal triggered a year ago by the downing, by Russian air defenses, of an Azerbaijan Airlines Azal plane flying from Baku to the Russian city of Grozny, an incident that killed 39 passengers.
Later on Monday, Putin is expected to meet with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who decided to freeze his country’s participation in the post-Soviet military alliance after criticizing Moscow for inaction during Armenia’s military clashes with Azerbaijan.
In addition to Ukraine and Georgia, which have permanently left the CIS, Moldova has also suspended its participation because of Russia’s military campaign in the neighboring country.
#FromTheSouth News Bits | Russia: An apartment building was damaged after a nighttime drone attack in the province of Tver, less than 200 kilometers northwest of Moscow. pic.twitter.com/CfTYyz5KSl
— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) December 15, 2025
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Source: EFE
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