On the final day of the BRICS summit hosted in the Russian city of Kazan, President Vladimir Putin warned that efforts to defeat Russia on the battlefield are "illusory".

Moscow's adversaries "do not conceal their aim to deal our country a strategic defeat," Putin told the summit. "I will say directly that these are illusory calculations, that can be made only by those who do not know Russia's history."

He described that the Ukraine conflict has essentially become a proxy war, as "Ukraine is being exploited to create critical threats to Russia's security at the expense of its vital interests."

He also said the West is "ignoring... legitimate concerns and violating the rights of Russian-speaking individuals" - in reference especially to the Russian-speaking Donbass region in the East, which Moscow forces have been solidifying control over.

He also addressed the creation of a stable and fair Eurasian security order, through alliances like BRICS. "The idea is that by joining efforts, we can reliably guarantee genuine stability and create conditions for the peaceful development of all states and peoples on the continent," Putin stated.

Turning to the Gaza crisis, he stressed that though Russia stands against terrorism, the region is "on the brink of full-scale war." He argued that the establishment of an independent Palestine in some form is vital. "Addressing the historical injustice towards the Palestinian people could guarantee peace in the Middle East," Putin said.

The BRICS family photo has expanded from year to year, reflecting the admission of new members: