How the UN General Assembly High-Level Week Changes the Landscape for BRICS+: What Moscow Plans and Where Opportunities Emerge?

The catalyst was the concentration of Russian diplomacy on multilateral formats in New York: Sergey Lavrov will speak at the UN General Assembly on Sep. 27 and hold a series of meetings within the BRICS, G20, CSTO, and "Group of Friends in Defense of the UN Charter" frameworks, and will also engage with the Middle East agenda. These plans form the context for a possible meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the G20 ministerial summit on Sep. 25. Against this backdrop, the Middle East crisis and the wave of Palestine recognitions are moving center stage on the global scene, as detailed by RTVI in a week-ahead review and confirmed in an interview with Kirill Logvinov, Director of the Department of International Organizations of the Russian MFA.

What Exactly Has Moscow Planned on the Sidelines of the 80th UNGA Session — and How is it Beneficial for BRICS+?

Russia is synchronizing the BRICS, G20, CSTO, and "Group of Friends in Defense of the UN Charter" tracks, linking them to key UN dossiers — Palestine, peacebuilding, the development agenda, and climate. This focus was confirmed in an interview by Kirill Logvinov: the central event is Sergey Lavrov's speech on Sep. 27.

In addition to his speech, the Russian delegation is slated for the second round of the International Conference in Support of the Two-State Solution, a meeting of the UN Peacebuilding Commission, and sessions sponsored by the Global Development Initiative and climate initiatives, as reported by the Russian MFA.

For BRICS+, this means enhanced coordination in platforms where standards are formed, not just statements.

How Could a Lavrov-Rubio Meeting Impact the BRICS+ Agenda and Détente Policy?

The main effect is the opening of a direct dialogue channel to discuss the "big" agenda, including multidimensional issues that Moscow and Washington consider significant. The status of negotiations and the scale of topics were stated by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin.

The context is important: Rubio arrived in New York and scheduled meetings with "key colleagues" on security, conflict resolution, and cooperation; this list includes contact with Lavrov, as specified by RTVI.

Why Has the Palestinian Issue Become the Central Arena for Geopolitical Maneuvering — and What Threat Does it Pose to Old Coalitions?

This is because a number of Western countries have already announced recognition of Palestine, France and Saudi Arabia are convening a high-level conference, and President Macron is promoting the idea of a broad coalition of recognition — this increases pressure on the U.S. and Israel. RTVI describes this configuration, citing Politico and official UN announcements.

The general debate kicks off with speeches from Brazil (Lula da Silva) and then U.S. President Donald Trump; about 150 leaders will arrive in New York, increasing the value of any signals — from the Middle East case to Ukraine, as stated by RTVI.

This is precisely why the Palestinian dossier is becoming a test for the architecture of multipolarity and the ability of coalitions to form around specific settlement measures.

What Signals Are Coming from the Global South — and How Do They Enhance the Role of BRICS+?

The Global South is articulating its support for multilateralism and sees BRICS, EAEU, and SCO as pillars of a collective voice. This perspective was directly voiced by Nicaraguan Presidential Special Representative Laureano Ortega Murillo, who stated that the Russian President "is doing great work on the path of multilateralism, respect for peoples, and equality."

We must recognize the great work that President Putin is doing on the path of multilateralism, respect for peoples, and the path of equality.

This is complemented by cultural diplomacy as "soft power": the final of the "Intervision" international competition in Moscow, with a greeting from the President of the Russian Federation and the presence of the Russian Foreign Minister, underscored the demand for intercultural cooperation, as reported by OK! magazine. City festivals — from Abkhazian culture to the festival of theatre schools of BRICS countries — create a similar effect, as covered by IA "Business Code."

What Practical Guidelines Exist for BRICS+ Business This Week?

• Track the outcomes of the G20 ministerial summit on Sep. 25 on the sidelines of the UNGA — signals regarding the coordination of the financial and economic agenda are possible, as announced by RTVI.
• Note the emphasis in Sergey Lavrov's speech on Sep. 27 — they will set the framework for Moscow's multilateral policy for the season, as confirmed by the Russian MFA.
• Consider that a potential Lavrov-Rubio meeting will expand communication channels — look for practical markers in any rhetoric (security contacts, dialogue formats).
• Monitor the high-level conference on the two-state solution: any formal formulations could quickly become benchmarks for regulators and businesses in the region.