MOSCOW, March 30. /TASS/. The BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) will serve as a cornerstone of an emerging world order, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov told the RT television broadcaster.

"I believe that the BRICS countries, which account for nearly half of the world’s population and a large share of the world GDP, will serve as a cornerstone of an emerging world order," he said.

He stressed the BRICS countries’ significant role in protecting international law and struggle against the Western countries’ sanction policy.

"We know that in each country there are certain nuances related with the problems they face, but now we are united in protecting international law and our efforts to overcome arbitrary, illegitimate, unilateral sanctions that have become the sole political instrument in the United States and other countries," Ryabkov said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24 said that in response to a request from the leaders of the Donbass republics he had made a decision to conduct a special military operation. He stressed that Moscow’s plans did not envisage an occupation of Ukrainian territories. The Russian Defense Ministry said that its forces were refraining from strikes against Ukrainian cities and smart weapons were being used to put military infrastructure out of order. The civilian population is not at risk.

A number of countries, including Western ones, imposed harsh sanctions on Russia. The European Union, the United States, Canada, Britain and Japan introduced restrictions on Russia’s financial sector and the export of high technologies. Also, they blacklisted Russian politicians, bankers and other individuals.