Russian President Vladimir Putin has thanked members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation for supporting Moscow's actions to prevent an armed rebellion by the Wagner mercenary group.

The SCO is a regional framework on security and economic cooperation led by China and Russia.

Putin was addressing an SCO summit held online on Tuesday. It was Putin's first international conference since last month's mutiny in Russia.

He said, "The Russian people are consolidated as never before."

He went on to say that Russia's leaders and entire society "demonstrated their unity and elevated sense of responsibility" to respond to the mutiny.

Putin also said a "hybrid war" has been waged against his country, with unjustified sanctions imposed on an unprecedented scale.

He said Russia will respond with confidence to external pressure, sanctions and provocations.

Putin also expressed willingness to strengthen partnerships within the SCO to counter Western nations.