Russian President Vladimir Putin will take part in the upcoming BRICS summit via video conference and not attend the summit in person, the Kremlin said on Wednesday.
"Putin has decided to participate in the BRICS summit via videoconferencing: it will be a fully-fledged participation," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Sputnik
Earlier in the day, the South African president's office said that Putin will not attend the upcoming summit in person and that a joint decision has been reached on the matter.
"The summit will be attended by the leaders of Brazil, India, China and South Africa. 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," the office said in a statement.
The office added that "[South African] President Ramaphosa is confident that the summit will be successful, and he calls on the people to provide the necessary hospitality to participants who will arrive from different parts of the continent and the world."
BRICS, which was founded in 2009, groups Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. A number of other countries reportedly have the intention to join the economic bloc, including Argentina and Iran, as well as Indonesia, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
BRICS, which was founded in 2009, groups Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. A number of other countries reportedly have the intention to join the economic bloc, including Argentina and Iran, as well as Indonesia, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.