Putin holds Security Council meeting on multipolar world before key Ukraine talks

Russian President Vladimir Putin led a videoconference meeting of the Russian Security Council on Monday, with a key agenda item being the nation's strategic role in shaping a new, multipolar international system. The meeting serves to coordinate Moscow's stance ahead of significant diplomatic engagements.

Agenda Focus on Global Order

Opening the session from Moscow, Putin outlined the two main topics. "Our first point addresses current security matters, while the second concerns our role in establishing a multipolar world and our corresponding actions," the Russian leader stated. He directed the council to begin with the latter issue, asking Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to present his analysis on the subject.

Timing Before Crucial Davos Encounter

The council's gathering is strategically timed ahead of expected talks this Tuesday in Davos, Switzerland. At the World Economic Forum, Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriyev is slated to meet with U.S. representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, with the Ukraine conflict at the center of discussions. It is a customary practice for Putin to convene the Security Council prior to such international negotiations to solidify Russia's official position.

Context of Strategic Positioning

The emphasis on a "multipolar world" underscores Russia's long-standing foreign policy objective of diminishing what it perceives as a U.S.-dominated unipolar order. These pre-negotiation meetings highlight the continued importance of the Ukraine issue on the global stage, with major powers maneuvering for influence. The outcomes of the Davos dialogue will be closely monitored for any shifts in the protracted conflict.