President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend the BRICS summit next month.
Presidential spokesman Vincent Maguiña said on Wednesday: “By mutual agreement, Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend the summit, but the Russian Federation will be represented by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
President Ramaphosa has affirmed South Africa’s readiness to host the historic 15th summit of BRICS countries – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. It will be the first summit to be hosted in person since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent global restrictions.
“President Ramaphosa has in recent months and weeks made a number of consultations about hosting the summit. The President’s last consultations in this regard took place last night, Tuesday, July 18, at the BRICS political party dialogue in Gauteng.
“The leaders of Brazil, India, China and South Africa will attend the summit. In due course, a comprehensive statement on the substantive issues to be covered at the summit and other relevant foreign policy matters will be issued.
“President Ramaphosa is confident that the summit will be successful and invites the nation to extend hospitality to the many delegates who will be arriving from different parts of the continent and the world.”
This is a developing story.
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