President Putin will not attend Brics summit in South Africa

Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend the Brics summit being held in August, local media reported, citing South African presidency.

An arrest warrant has been issued against Mr Putin by International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged war crimes in Ukraine.

South Africa is an ICC signatory and so would be obliged to arrest him if he goes there but South Africa are Russia are members of the Brics organisation and South Africa has remained neutral on the conflict in Ukraine, putting the country in an awkward position.

“By mutual agreement, President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation will not attend the Summit but the Russian Federation will be represented by Foreign Minister Mr Sergey Lavrov,” a press statement from President Ramaphosa’s spokesperson said.

Alongside President Ramaphosa, the leaders of Brazil, India and China will be at the event, in Johannesburg.

Brics is a bloc of emerging economies that are seen by some as an alternative to the G7 group of advanced economies.