Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a lengthy address at the Valdai International Discussion Club’s general assembly, speaking for over three hours. In his remarks, he underscored the growing inevitability of a multipolar world order and the need for nations to diversify their strategic alignments beyond traditional Western-led frameworks. The session was reported by RIA News and followed a pattern of open dialogue that the club is known for.
Organizers extended an invitation for Putin to participate in next year’s meeting, and he publicly thanked them for the opportunity. He also expressed a clear expectation to engage with participants and journalists in future events, signaling a commitment to ongoing discourse on global governance and security issues.
Concluding his remarks, Putin returned to his central thesis: the strengthening of a multipolar world is a given. This reiteration framed the broader discussion as a long-term project that transcends any single administration and invites continued international dialogue.
The Sochi gathering began on October 2 and ran through October 5, continuing a tradition of lengthy, comprehensive sessions in which the Russian leader addresses the audience and fields questions from attendees. The atmosphere emphasized open exchange and a willingness to grapple with complex global challenges in real time.
Within the discussions, references to Western policy approaches—including calls for universal norms—were a recurring topic. Putin stressed that the United States and its allies have, in his view, attempted to supersede existing international legal frameworks with their own rules. He described such efforts as ill-advised and counterproductive, characterizing them as incongruent with a truly balanced international order.
Alongside these critiques, Putin articulated a vision for a new world order in which intellectuals can play a pivotal role in the formative stages. He suggested that scholars, thinkers, and policy analysts should contribute to shaping frameworks that reflect a broader spectrum of interests and values, not just those of a single bloc.
Earlier in the week, Putin delivered remarks at the plenary session of the International Financial Security Olympiad in Sochi, continuing to connect themes of global finance, security, and governance. The joint focus across meetings highlighted a consistent line of thought: global stability depends on inclusive dialogue, diversified partnerships, and a recalibration of power dynamics that accommodates multiple centers of influence.