Putin to attend BRICS summit via video link

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will attend the BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro in July, while Russian President Vladimir Putin will join only via videoconference (VCS). This was announced to journalists on June 25 by Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov.

According to him, the Russian leader will participate in the main events via video link due to difficulties in the context of the requirements of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The Brazilian government has not adopted a clear position on this issue that could allow the head of state to attend the summit, Ushakov said.

"The President will take part in the VKS, but the Minister of Foreign Affairs will be in place," he concluded.

Your own calculation: why is Russia creating the BRICS grain exchange

The trading platform will strengthen the union's position in global trade

Earlier in the day, it became known that Chinese President Xi Jinping would miss the BRICS summit for several reasons. First of all, Xi Jinping has already met twice with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Secondly, there was a problem with the Chinese leader's schedule, so the Chinese delegation to the BRICS summit will be led by the country's Prime Minister Li Qiang.