Putin to Join BRICS Summit Remotely
Despite legal and diplomatic obstacles, Russia’s participation — even through a virtual platform — signals its sustained commitment to the BRICS partnership.
Russia, PUREWILAYAH.COM - Russian President Vladimir Putin will participate in the upcoming BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro via video link, his foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov announced on Wednesday.
While Putin will join remotely, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will travel to Brazil to represent Russia in person.
This year’s BRICS summit, the 17th annual gathering of the bloc, is scheduled for July in Brazil. Ushakov confirmed in an interview with Vesti that Putin’s decision not to attend in person is linked to legal and diplomatic complications involving the International Criminal Court (ICC).
ICC Warrant Limits Putin’s Travel
“The president will participate via video link. This is related to difficulties connected to the requirements of the ICC,” Ushakov explained. “The Brazilian government could not take a clear position that would allow our president to participate in this meeting.”
In 2023, the ICC issued arrest warrants for President Putin and Russia’s Commissioner for Children’s Rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, accusing them of the unlawful deportation and transfer of minors during the conflict in Ukraine. Moscow has dismissed the charges as politically motivated and claims that the evacuations were carried out to protect children from combat zones.
At the recent St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Lvova-Belova stated that Moscow is compiling a list of children currently located in Russia who will be reunited with their families in Ukraine. This list will be presented to Kiev’s negotiating team during the next round of direct talks.
She added that five of the 339 children Kiev demanded be returned during the last negotiations in Istanbul are now being prepared for repatriation.
Russia Does Not Recognize ICC Jurisdiction
Russia, along with the United States, China, and Israel, is not a signatory to the Rome Statute and does not recognize the jurisdiction of the ICC. Moscow has repeatedly criticized the court for bias and for being used as a political tool by the West.
Earlier this year, U.S. President Donald Trump imposed sanctions on the ICC and its top prosecutor, Karim Khan, following the issuance of arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The court accused both men, along with three Hamas leaders, of committing war crimes during the Gaza conflict.
BRICS Agenda Moves Forward Despite Obstacles
The upcoming BRICS summit is expected to address key geopolitical and economic issues, including the potential expansion of the group, discussions on multipolar global order, and efforts to create alternatives to Western-dominated financial institutions.
Despite legal and diplomatic obstacles, Russia’s participation — even through a virtual platform — signals its sustained commitment to the BRICS partnership. (PW)
Source: RT