Analysis of President Putin’s Valdai Speech: From Transcript – shifting global power dynamics

by Amarynth [10-4-2025].

The Theme of this year’s Valdai Club annual meeting is: The Polycentric World: Instructions for Use.

Let’s start with Mr Putin’s first instruction, mainly to Europe:

Calm down. Sleep quiet, and try to get to grips with YOUR problems’.

As an analytical framework and contextualization, I extracted and organized all the paragraphs and sub-paragraphs that directly address the concepts of multipolarity, polycentrism, and the end of Western hegemony, but in President Putin’s own words. For this exercise, paragraphs purely about Ukraine or other tangential topics were left out, unless they directly reference the multipolarity theme. The goal is to give us a sharply focused dataset to work with.

The Speech

• frames the shift to multipolarity as an irreversible, objective historical process.
• contrasts the new era (stable, just, based on sovereignty and equality) with the old one (unstable, dictatorial, based on Western hegemony).
• points to BRICS and the SCO as the concrete, attractive embodiments of this new order.
• issues a prescriptive, but implied, call to action for nations to join this alternative system and adopt its principles.
• uses a dual-toned strategy: rallying and calming for the “Global Majority” while not hiding the reasons for the shift, i.e., western hegemony.

The Irreversible Historical Shift to Multipolarity

The core argument is that the unipolar model is over, and a new, multipolar world is emerging.

The global situation is changing dynamically and is moving towards the formation of a truly multipolar world order. This is an objective process; there is no stopping it, and it means that the world is becoming more stable and secure, of course, provided that all participants in international communication act responsibly.

The formation of a multipolar world order is irreversible. The attempts of the so-called golden billion to retain its dominance and hegemony at any cost are leading to a sharp increase in conflict potential in the world.

The era of the unipolar world order, the era of dictatorship, of one hegemony, is receding into the past. A multipolar world is taking its place. This is an objective, natural process, because the concentration of the entire world politics and economy in the hands of one country, or a group of countries that are close in spirit, is no longer possible.

The formation of a multipolar international order is irreversible. The attempts of the so-called golden billion to retain its dominance and hegemony at any cost are leading to a sharp increase in conflict potential in the world.

The “Golden Billion” and Western Hegemony as the Cause of Instability

Here, Putin defines the old system as one of exploitation and dictatorship by the “golden billion,” which he contrasts with the more just multipolar model.

The so-called golden billion, led by the United States, continues to cling to the dogmas of its exclusivity, provoking chaos, ethnic and religious strife, and suppressing the identity and traditional values of other peoples. This is the real nature of the neo-colonialists.

The outgoing hegemony acts as a dictator and uses the entire range of means – from a forged financial and economic system to brute military force – the so-called hard power. We all see this. We see how they are trying to replace international law and universal norms with some kind of “rules-based order,” which are invented on the go and are used exclusively in the interests of one side, to punish those who are undesirable and to keep the whole world in check.

The outgoing hegemony acts as a dictator and uses the entire range of means – from a forged financial and economic system to brute military force – the so-called hard power.

We see how they are trying to replace international law and universal norms with some kind of “rules-based order,” which are invented on the go and are used exclusively in the interests of one side, to punish those who are undesirable and to keep the whole world in check.

BRICS and the SCO as Pillars of the New Multipolar Order

Putin points to the successful and attractive alternatives to Western-dominated structures.

On BRICS:

The attractiveness of the new global political and economic centres is also evidenced by the expansion of such associations as BRICS and the SCO. They are based on the principles of equality, solidarity, and respect for each other’s interests.

Dozens of states in Asia, Africa, and Latin America are ready to work on this constructive agenda. And the growing authority of BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and other associations, which are now being joined by many countries, is convincing evidence of this.

On the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO):

The attractiveness of the new global political and economic centres is also evidenced by the expansion of such associations as BRICS and the SCO. They are based on the principles of equality, solidarity, and respect for each other’s interests.

Dozens of states in Asia, Africa, and Latin America are ready to work on this constructive agenda. And the growing authority of BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and other associations, which are now being joined by many countries, is convincing evidence of this.

The Role of New Centers of Power and Sovereign Development

This section highlights the rise of new, non-Western centers of power and the importance of national sovereignty in the new multipolar system.

New, much more dynamic and promising centers of power are being formed, primarily in the Asia-Pacific region.

The majority of the international community, including the countries of Latin America, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, are striving to pursue an independent, sovereign, independent policy, based on their own national interests, on their identity, on the traditions and culture of their peoples.

It is with them, with these countries, with these peoples, that we are building relations – relations of a new type, based on the principles of equality, mutual benefit, respect for each other’s interests, and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs.

Russia as a Sovereign Pole and Partner in the New World

Putin positions Russia as a key sovereign pole in this new world and a reliable partner for other nations seeking independence.

Russia has withstood the pressure of the collective West, has not broken down, and has demonstrated that it is capable of defending its national interests and its sovereignty.

It is with them, with these countries, with these peoples, that we are building relations – relations of a new type, based on the principles of equality, mutual benefit, respect for each other’s interests, and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs.

We are open to the widest possible cooperation with all states and associations that are ready for joint work.

We are convinced that the future of the world order should be based on the principles of justice, on the recognition of the right of every nation and civilization to their own path of development.

As you can see, Putin explicitly links the expansion and growing authority of BRICS and the SCO to the attractiveness of the multipolar model, using them as primary evidence that the world is moving in this new direction.

The Positive Aspects of the Shift to a Multipolar World

1. Enhanced Global Stability and Security

“The situation in the world is changing dynamically and is moving towards the formation of a truly multipolar world order. This is an objective process, there is no stopping it, and it means that the world is becoming more stable and secure, of course, provided that all participants in international communication act responsibly.”

2. A More Just and Equitable Foundation for International Relations

“We are convinced that the future of the world order should be based on the principles of justice, on the recognition of the right of every nation and civilization to its own path of development.”

3. The Rise of Dynamic and Promising New Centers of Global Growth

“New, much more dynamic and promising centers of power are being formed, primarily in the Asia-Pacific region.”

4. The Triumph of National Sovereignty and Independent Development

“The majority of the international community, including the countries of Latin America, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, are striving to pursue an independent, sovereign, independent policy, based on their own national interests, on their identity, on the traditions and culture of their peoples.”

5. The Emergence of Relationships Based on Equality and Mutual Respect

“It is with them, with these countries, with these peoples, that we are building relations – relations of a new type, based on the principles of equality, mutual benefit, respect for each other’s interests, and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs.”

6. The Attractiveness of New Associations and Models of Cooperation

“The attractiveness of the new global political and economic centres is also evidenced by the expansion of such associations as BRICS and the SCO. They are based on the principles of equality, solidarity, and respect for each other’s interests.”

“Dozens of states in Asia, Africa, and Latin America are ready to work on this constructive agenda. And the growing authority of BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and other associations… is convincing evidence of this.”

In essence, the speech posits that the multipolar shift is not a neutral event, but a positive one, leading to a world that is more stable, just, dynamic, sovereign, cooperative, and respectful of civilizational diversity.