Jeremić for RT in Saint Petersburg: If the West Had Listened to Messages from Moscow, There Would Be No War in Ukraine
Jeremić for RT in Saint Petersburg: If the West Had Listened to Messages from Moscow, There Would Be No War in Ukraine
Saint Petersburg, June 6, 2024 - Vuk Jeremić, President of the Center for International Relations and Sustainable Development (CIRSD) and former President of the UN General Assembly, stated today that the war in Ukraine might have been avoided if Western capitals had taken the messages from Moscow seriously several years ago.
"I sincerely hope they start taking seriously what is being said," Jeremić told RT in Saint Petersburg, where he is participating in the International Economic Forum.
When asked if the West will take Russian President Vladimir Putin's statement seriously—regarding the possibility of Russia considering sending weapons to states that could use them against those supporting Ukraine—Jeremić expressed hope that this time the messages from Moscow will be taken more seriously. He emphasized that reason should prevail and that concern for potential future developments should outweigh short-term political calculations, thus avoiding actions that could lead to escalation.
"If that doesn't happen, only God knows where this could lead us," Jeremić said.
"The current issue is who controls the escalation ladder, as they hold an advantage over the opposing side. However, there are few safe and controllable paths of escalation, and the situation is even more concerning considering both the West and Russia possess nuclear weapons," Jeremić added.
Regarding his impressions of the International Economic Forum in Saint Petersburg, Jeremić noted the event's dynamism and confidence.
"The forum is an innovative and dynamic place, and it certainly doesn't look like a gathering in a country under strict sanctions that have severely impacted its economy," Jeremić said.
"My first impression from the forum is that the sanctions against Russia have not achieved the goals envisioned by those who imposed them," Jeremić emphasized.
When asked about the BRICS' reaction to Western sanctions against Russia, Jeremić responded that BRICS cannot yet be considered a bloc in the full sense but rather a group of states that have decided to work together on certain issues.
"At this moment, BRICS does not yet have the structures formed to act on issues like sanctions. Instead, it is about the bilateral relations of BRICS founders and other members with Russia, which means the sanctions have not significantly affected Russia," Jeremić said.
"In my panel presentation at the International Economic Forum, I highlighted that in the future, the formation of structures within BRICS should certainly be considered. For instance, establishing a secretariat that would contribute to institutional responses to many important issues," Jeremić concluded.
CIRSD Hosts Horizons Discussion with Professor Andrey Sushentsov on Russia’s Global Role and the Future of Multipolarity
Belgrade, April 2025 — The Center for International Relations and Sustainable Development (CIRSD) hosted a special edition of its acclaimed Horizons Discussions series, featuring an in-depth conversation between CIRSD President Vuk Jeremić and Professor Andrey Sushentsov, Dean of the School of International Relations at MGIMO University and one of Russia’s most influential strategic thinkers.
Read more
Jeremić for China Daily: Collaborations urged amid turbulence
“You gotta wait for the rain to stop in order to fix the roof,” he said in an exclusive interview with China Daily, adding that Europe had been under anesthesia for decades. “Europe should have woken up many, many years ago. Sadly, it hasn’t,” he said, referring to Europe-US relations.
Read more
The Institutionalization of Terrorism: How the West Has Used Terrorism for Geopolitical Gain
An old African proverb says, “When elephants fight, the grass gets trampled.” The post-World War II period set a stage that reflected the established division of the world into two parts: the red, underdeveloped East and the blue, democratic West.
Read more
The Liberal World Order and De-dollarization: Can BRICS Offer a Stable Alternative?
The 17th BRICS Summit, entitled “Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security,” took place in 2024 in Kazan, the capital of Russia’s Republic of Tatarstan. This was the first summit since the organization expanded a few months earlier and the largest in its history.
Read more