Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend the upcoming BRICS summit in Brazil in person, the Kremlin confirmed. Instead, he will participate via video conference during the July 6–7 meeting in Rio de Janeiro.

Presidential aide Yuri Ushakov directly attributed Putin’s virtual attendance to Brazil’s membership in the International Criminal Court (ICC). The court issued an arrest warrant for Putin in March 2023, charging him with the unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children from Russian-occupied territories—charges stemming from Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

“This is related to certain complications in the context of the ICC’s requirements. The Brazilian government could not take a clear position that would allow our president to participate in person,” Ushakov told Interfax.

Lavrov to attend in Putin’s place

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who is not under any ICC indictment, will represent Russia on-site at the summit.

Although Putin has previously visited ICC member countries such as Mongolia without facing arrest, the Kremlin is treating the situation in Brazil differently due to the perceived legal and diplomatic uncertainties.

Xi Jinping also expected to miss BRICS summit

Chinese President Xi Jinping is also expected to skip the BRICS summit, according to Bloomberg, with Premier Li Qiang representing China instead. This would mark Xi’s first absence from a BRICS summit since taking power.

Sources cited by the South China Morning Post said “scheduling conflicts” were officially cited, but noted that Xi has already met frequently with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Beijing generally avoids sending Xi to the same country two years in a row, with Russia being the exception, according to sources.

Modi to attend in person; India eyes state visit

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi plans to attend the summit in person and may stay on for a state visit to Brazil afterward, a source familiar with the matter told Bloomberg. Details of the trip are still being finalized.

Xi’s absence, contrasted with Modi’s high-profile visit, could create unfavorable optics for Beijing, as China and India cautiously improve bilateral ties.

BRICS expands amid global power shifts

Formed in 2006, BRICS—originally comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—has recently expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the UAE, and Indonesia. The group aims to serve as a counterbalance to Western-dominated institutions such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.

Xi’s decision not to attend could also delay diplomatic engagement with Iran, which joined BRICS in 2024 amid ongoing tensions with Israel. The summit would have marked Xi’s first direct meeting with Iranian officials since the conflict began.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has decided not to attend the upcoming BRICS summit in Brazil due to an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC), Russian president's foreign policy aide Yuriy Ushakov said on June 25.

"This is related to certain difficulties in the context of the ICC’s demands, as you know, and precisely in this context, the Brazilian government was unable to take a clear position that would allow our president to participate in this meeting," Ushakov said.

Brazil is a member of the ICC and a signatory to the Rome Statute, meaning it is obliged to arrest Putin if he enters the country.

The BRICS summit, which is scheduled to take place on July 6–7, will be attended by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, according to Ushakov. Putin is expected to participate remotely via video.

BRICS, composed of Russia, China, India, Brazil, and other nations, is a group of emerging economies often portrayed as a counterweight to the Western-led world.

The ICC issued a warrant for the Russian leader's arrest in March 2023 over the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children during Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

In November 2024, Putin skipped the G20 summit in Brazil and sent Lavrov instead.

Earlier in June, Moscow said that Putin had received an official invitation to attend the G20 summit in South Africa, another ICC member state. The event is scheduled to take place in Johannesburg from Nov. 22 to 23.

In September 2024, Putin made a rare visit to Mongolia, which is also a signatory of the ICC, prompting criticism over the non-enforcement of the warrant.

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“I consider him (Russian President Vladimir Putin) a person I think is misguided,” U.S. President Donald Trump said speaking at a NATO press conference in The Hague on June 25.

The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Denisova