Putin pushes idea of Russian-backed summit to stabilise world

Russia President Vladimir Putin has called on the leaders of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council to make good on an agreement to hold a face-to-face summit to try to tackle the world's problems as soon as possible.

Putin made the appeal in an article in English published late on Thursday in American international affairs magazine The National Interest.

In the article, he examined the events of World War Two close on the heels of a Red Square parade next week to mark the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany.

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"Today, as in 1945, it is important to demonstrate political will and discuss the future together," Putin wrote in the article.

He proposed such a summit in January and the four other permanent members of the UN Security Council - the United States, China, France and Britain - gave their agreement in principle.

Moscow hopes the summit can proceed once coronavirus fears recede despite its relations with the West, and particularly the United States, being strained over everything from Syria and Ukraine to alleged Russian political meddling abroad.

The summit would discuss the global economy, global security, arms control, extremism, cyberspace and climate change.