Cyril Ramaphosa’s presidency officially announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin would not be attending brix summit.
In a statement released on Wednesday morning, presidential spokesman Vincent Maguinia said Russia would be represented by its foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov.
“By mutual agreement, Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend the summit, but the Russian Federation will be represented by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov,” the statement read.
“In due course, a comprehensive statement on the substantive issues to be taken up at the summit and other relevant foreign policy matters will be issued.”
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This announcement comes after weeks of deliberations about the summit. The President’s latest consultation in this regard took place last night, Tuesday, July 18, 2023, at the BRICS Political Parties Dialogue in Gauteng.
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Leaders of other member states — Brazil, India, China and South Africa — will also attend the summit.
“President Ramaphosa is confident in the success of the summit and calls on the nation to extend the necessary hospitality to the many delegates who will be arriving from across the continent and the world,” the statement read. DM
