KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s intention to join BRICS will not affect bilateral relations with Ukraine despite Russia’s member state status in the bloc.
Ukraine’s Chargé d’Affaires to Malaysia Denys Mykhailuk told Scoop that the Ukranian government does not view BRICS as a hostile organisation and that Malaysia is a sovereign nation free to join any international alliance.
However, Ukraine’s top diplomat to Malaysia mentions that BRICS does comprise Russia, which he said, “There is only one member of BRICS who violates international law and has broken every clause of the UN Charter.
“We believe that cooperation with this particular country will not be in the interests of any responsible member of the international community.”
Currently, Ukraine is embroiled in an armed conflict after Russian troops invaded the country with the aim of overthrowing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s government.
Ukraine was successful in pushing back Russian troops from Kyiv and other major parts of the country but Russia still occupies various parts of eastern Ukraine.
Yesterday, it was reported that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim expressed interest for Malaysia to join BRICS.
Founded in 2006, the international bloc initially comprised Brazil, Russia, India, and China before South Africa’s participation in 2011.
The alliance later grew in January this year when Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates joined as members. – June 19, 2024