Putin ends BRICS summit that sought to expand Russia's global clout but was shadowed by Ukraine

KAZAN, Russia (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin closed a summit of the BRICS bloc of developing economies on Thursday, praising its role as a counterbalance to what he called the West's “perverse methods."

The three-day summit in the city of Kazan was attended by leaders or representatives of 36 countries, highlighting the failure of United States-led efforts to isolate Russia over its actions in Ukraine.

The conflict came up repeatedly at the meeting, which saw the first visit to Russia from United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in more than two years and drew an angry reaction from Kyiv. Guterres called for “a just peace” in Ukraine, in line with the U.N. Charter, international law and General Assembly resolutions. He also urged an immediate end to the fighting in Gaza, Lebanon and Sudan.

At a news conference Thursday night, Putin was asked about former U.S. President Donald Trump's promise to end the fighting in Ukraine.

“What Mr. Trump said recently, what I heard, (is) he spoke about the desire to do everything to end the conflict in Ukraine," Putin said. "It seems to me that he said it sincerely. We certainly welcome statements of this kind, no matter who makes them.”

Putin also was asked about whether any North Korean troops were in Russia, which he neither confirmed nor denied. The U.S. said Wednesday that 3,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to Russia and are training at several locations.

“Images are a serious thing, if there are images, then they reflect something," he said when asked about satellite photos of troops.

Putin noted that lawmakers in Moscow earlier in the day ratified a pact with North Korea on mutual military assistance as part of a “strategic partnership” with Pyongyang.

“We have never doubted that the North Korean leadership takes our agreements seriously. What and how we will do within the framework of this article (of the agreement) is our business,” he said.

The summit covered the deepening of financial cooperation, including the development of alternatives to Western-dominated payment systems, efforts to settle regional conflicts and expansion of the BRICS group of nations.

The alliance that initially included Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa when it was founded in 2009 has expanded to embrace Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Turkey, Azerbaijan and Malaysia have formally applied to become members, and several other countries have expressed interest in joining.

The Kremlin touted the summit as “the largest foreign policy event ever held” by Russia.

Speaking at what was dubbed the “BRICS Plus” session, which included countries that are considering joining the bloc, Putin accused the West of trying to stem the growing power of the Global South with “illegal unilateral sanctions, blatant protectionism, manipulation of currency and stock markets, and relentless foreign influence ostensibly promoting democracy, human rights, and the climate change agenda.”

“Such perverse methods and approaches — to put it bluntly — lead to the emergence of new conflicts and the aggravation of old disagreements,” Putin said. “One example of this is Ukraine, which is being used to create critical threats to Russia’s security, while ignoring our vital interests, our just concerns, and the infringement of the rights of Russian-speaking people.”

Russia has specifically pushed for the creation of a new payment system that would offer an alternative to the global bank messaging network SWIFT and allow Moscow to dodge Western sanctions and trade with partners.

In a joint declaration Wednesday, participants voiced concern about “the disruptive effect of unlawful unilateral coercive measures, including illegal sanctions” and reiterated their commitment to enhancing financial cooperation within BRICS. They noted the benefits of “faster, low-cost, more efficient, transparent, safe and inclusive cross-border payment instruments built upon the principle of minimizing trade barriers and non-discriminatory access.”

China's President Xi Jinping has emphasized the bloc’s role in ensuring global security. Xi noted that China and Brazil have put forward a peace plan for Ukraine and sought to rally broader international support for it. Ukraine has rejected the proposal.

“We should promote the de-escalation of the situation as soon as possible and pave the way for a political settlement,” Xi said.

Putin and Xi had announced a “no-limits” partnership weeks before Russia sent troops into Ukraine in 2022. They already met twice earlier this year, in Beijing in May and at a Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Kazakhstan in July.

Russia’s cooperation with India also has flourished as New Delhi sees Moscow as a time-tested partner since the Cold War despite Russia’s close ties with India’s rival, China. While Western allies want New Delhi to be more active in persuading Moscow to end the fighting in Ukraine, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has avoided condemning Russia while emphasizing a peaceful settlement.

Addressing the BRICS Plus session, Guterres urged an immediate end to the fighting in Gaza, Lebanon, Ukraine and Sudan. “We need peace in Ukraine, a just peace in line with the U.N. Charter, international law and General Assembly resolutions,” he said.

Russia's Kremlin-controlled media touted the summit as a massive policy coup that left the West fearing the loss of its global clout. State TV shows and news bulletins underscored that BRICS countries account for about half the world's population comprising the “global majority” and challenging Western “hegemony.”

TV hosts elaborately quoted Western media reports saying that the summit highlighted the failure to isolate Moscow. “The West, the U.S., Washington, Brussels, London ended up isolating themselves,” said Yevgeny Popov, host of a popular political talk show on state channel Rossiya 1.

Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a press conference at BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024. (Maxim Shipenkov, Pool Photo via AP)

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud attends Outreach/BRICS Plus format session at BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024. (Vladimir Astapkovich/Photo host brics-russia2024.ru via AP)

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, left, and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev attend Outreach/BRICS Plus format session on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024. (Ramil Sitdikov/Photo host brics-russia2024.ru via AP)

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres attends Outreach/BRICS Plus format session at the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024. (Maxim Shemetov, Pool Photo via AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, gestures while Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa shake hands during a family photo ceremony prior to Outreach/BRICS Plus format session on the sidelines of the the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024. (Grigory Sysoyev/Photo host brics-russia2024.ru via AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres shake hands during family photo ceremony prior to Outreach/BRICS Plus format session on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024. (Grigory Sysoyev/Photo host brics-russia2024.ru via AP)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, speak during Outreach/BRICS Plus format session at BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024. (Maxim Shemetov, Pool Photo via AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa shake hands during a family photo ceremony prior to Outreach/BRICS Plus format session at BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024. (Alexander Nemenov, Pool Photo via AP)

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives at the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, Pool)

The heads of delegations pose for a family photo prior to Outreach/BRICS Plus format session at the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024. (Alexander Nemenov, Pool Photo via AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, shakes hands with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during posing for a family photo prior to Outreach/BRICS Plus format session at the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024. (Maxim Shipenkov, Pool Photo via AP)

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres arrives at the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, Pool)

The heads of delegations pose for a family photo prior to Outreach/BRICS Plus format session at the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024. (Maxim Shipenkov, Pool Photo via AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa laugh during a family photo ceremony prior to Outreach/BRICS Plus format session at BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024. (Maxim Shipenkov, Pool Photo via AP)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin attend a family photo ceremony prior to Outreach/BRICS Plus format session at the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024. (Maxim Shipenkov, Pool Photo via AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and other participants pose for a family photo prior to Outreach/BRICS Plus format session at BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024. (Alexander Nemenov, Pool Photo via AP)

The FA Cup delivered another fairytale result on Saturday when sixth-tier Macclesfield — managed by Wayne Rooney's brother — knocked out titleholder Crystal Palace in one of the competition's greatest upsets.

The teams were separated by 117 places in the English soccer pyramid but Macclesfield won 2-1 which, given the difference in league positions, goes down as the most unlikely result in the FA Cup's 155-year history.

At the other extreme, Manchester City overwhelmed third-tier Exeter 10-1 in a match featuring a goal on debut by $87 million signing Antoine Semenyo.

City tying the record for its biggest ever win wasn't the story of the day in the third round, though.

That belonged to Macclesfield, a tiny club from England's north west that was relaunched after its predecessor, Macclesfield Town, was liquidated in 2020 because of debts.

The team, placed 14th in National League North, is still coming to terms with the loss of its 21-year-old forward Ethan McLeod, who was killed in a car crash travelling back from a match he played in at Bedford Town on Dec. 16. A banner bearing his name hung behind the dugouts at the Palace game and his family were in the stands to watch.

It made for an emotionally draining afternoon for John Rooney, the younger sibling of England and Manchester United great Wayne Rooney, who was at the match working for the BBC.

“We finished the game and then I walk in the office and see Ethan’s mum and dad in there, that’s very special to me,” John Rooney said. “Just knowing they were here with us, and I’m sure Ethan was looking down on us today.”

Macclesfield took the lead just before halftime through captain Paul Dawson, before Isaac Buckley-Ricketts made it 2-0 in the 60th following a scramble in the penalty area.

Yeremy Pino’s last-minute free kick for Palace left Macclesfield facing a nervous six minutes of stoppage time as home fans chanted “Silkmen! Silkmen!” — the club’s nickname.

Macclesfield survived, their players adding their names to the competition's lore.

Fans sprinted onto the field at Moss Rose — Macclesfield's modest 5,900-capacity stadium — in celebration at the final whistle while Dawson and Duffy were carried aloft.

“I didn’t think it was possible but there is that little bit of hope that anything can happen on the day,” said Rooney, who started and ended his playing career as a midfielder with the club and is in only his first season coaching.

“I can’t believe it. We were incredible from the first minute."

The last time Palace played in the FA Cup, it beat City in the final for its first ever trophy.

Palace's dismal afternoon was summed up when U.S. defender Chris Richards did a foul throw in the final minute of stoppage time.

“I have no words for this performance,” Palace manager Oliver Glasner said.

Palace captain Marc Guéhi spoke with the team’s traveling fans after the defeat.

Semenyo was handed a start by City manager Pep Guardiola a day after joining from Bournemouth and was among nine scorers for City. Right back Rico Lewis netted twice.

In a classy gesture, Semenyo thanked Bournemouth fans “for all the memories” in a full-page advertisement printed in the local Bournemouth Echo newspaper before the game.

“He is a humble guy,” City assistant manager Pep Lijnders, who was directing affairs in the technical area as Guardiola served a one-match touchline ban, said of Semenyo. "He brings something to the front line that we really want and we need.

“He can attack quick, he wants to chase, he is a guy who doesn’t stop."

Semenyo's former club lost at Newcastle 7-6 on penalties following a 3-3 draw in an all-Premier League contest at St. James' Park.

Anthony Gordon equalized for Newcastle with a penalty deep into stoppage time. Harvey Barnes grabbed his second goal for Newcastle two minutes before the end of extra time, only for Marcus Tavernier to level for Bournemouth with seconds remaining to take the game to penalties.

In the shootout, Newcastle goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale saved from Bafodé Diakité in what proved to be the final kick.

Chelsea marked new coach Liam Rosenior’s first match in charge by beating second-tier Charlton Athletic 5-1.

Defender Jorrel Hato and Tosin Adarabioyo scored either side of halftime for a heavily rotated Chelsea before Marc Guiu and substitutes Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez added more goals.

Rosenior was hired on Tuesday on a six-year deal as the replacement for Enzo Maresca and joined from Strasbourg, which is part of the same ownership group as Chelsea.

Tottenham completed a miserable week by losing to Aston Villa 2-1.

On Wednesday, Spurs conceded in stoppage time to lose at Bournemouth in the Premier League and some of its disgruntled fans were involved in a row with players, including Micky van de Ven. Cristian Romero also let rip at the club on social media.

Emi Buendia and Morgan Rogers scored for Villa in the first half and Wilson Odobert replied for Tottenham.

In another all-Premier League matchup, Sunderland beat Everton on penalties after the match finished 1-1 following extra time.

Premier League sides Brentford, Fulham, Burnley and Wolverhampton all beat lower-level opposition.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Chelsea's Tosin Adarabioyo celebrates scoring his team's second goal of the game during the English FA Cup third round soccer match between Charlton Athletic and Chelsea in London, Saturday Jan. 10, 2026. (John Walton/PA via AP)

Macclesfield Town's Josh Kay celebrates with fans following the FA Cup third round soccer match between Macclesfield Town and Crystal Palace, at the Leasing.com Stadium, Macclesfield, England, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)

Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers, second left, and Tottenham Hotspur's Joao Palhinha, right, clash after the FA Cup third round soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa in London, Saturday Jan. 10, 2026. (Andrew Matthews/PA via AP)

Manchester City's Jeremy Doku substitutes Antoine Semenyo during the FA Cup third round match between Manchetster City and Exeter City in Manchester, England Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Hodgson)

Macclesfield Town's Isaac Buckley-Ricketts celebrates scoring his side's second goal with teammates, during the FA Cup third round soccer match between Macclesfield Town and Crystal Palace, at the Leasing.com Stadium, Macclesfield, England, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)

Macclesfield FC goalscorers Paul Dawson, right and Isaac Buckley-Ricketts celebrate following the FA Cup third round soccer match between Macclesfield Town and Crystal Palace, at the Leasing.com Stadium, Macclesfield, England, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)

Macclesfield Town's Isaac Buckley-Ricketts, right, celebrates scoring his side's second goal, during the FA Cup third round soccer match between Macclesfield Town and Crystal Palace, at the Leasing.com Stadium, Macclesfield, England, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)

Macclesfield Town's Paul Dawson scores the opening goal, during the FA Cup third round soccer match between Macclesfield Town and Crystal Palace, at the Leasing.com Stadium, Macclesfield, England, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)

Macclesfield Town's Isaac Buckley-Ricketts celebrates scoring his side's second goal, during the FA Cup third round soccer match between Macclesfield Town and Crystal Palace, at the Leasing.com Stadium, Macclesfield, England, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)

Macclesfield Town's Josh Kay celebrates with fans following the FA Cup third round soccer match between Macclesfield Town and Crystal Palace, at the Leasing.com Stadium, Macclesfield, England, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)

Macclesfield Town's Isaac Buckley-Ricketts scores his side's second goal during the FA Cup third round soccer match between Macclesfield Town and Crystal Palace, at the Leasing.com Stadium, Macclesfield, England, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)

Crystal Palace's Yeremi Pino and Macclesfield Town's Rollin Menayese vie for the ball, during the FA Cup third round soccer match between Macclesfield Town and Crystal Palace, at the Leasing.com Stadium, Macclesfield, England, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)

Crystal Palace's Kaden Rodney, center right, and Macclesfield Town's Paul Dawson vie for the ball, during the FA Cup third round soccer match between Macclesfield Town and Crystal Palace, at the Leasing.com Stadium, Macclesfield, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)