LEADERS of the Brics group of developing countries rejected US and EU sanctions on other countries as their virtual summit opened today.

Saying the war in Ukraine “sounded an alarm for humanity,” summit host and Chinese President Xi Jinping said it exposed the dangers in great power rivalry and building up military blocs.

Chinese media said that next week’s G7 and Nato summits would “intensify existing tensions” while trying to “preserve the US-dominated global order” and it was important that the Brics were able to present an alternative approach to international relations based on co-operation rather than confrontation.