International

Johanesberg (August 22,2023) : Russian President Vladimir Putin has stayed away from the BRICS summit in South Africa, citing health reasons. The summit was held on Thursday and Friday. Putin's absence was a surprise, as he is the current chair of BRICS, a grouping of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for Putin for war crimes in Ukraine. Putin has denied the allegations. Some analysts believe that Putin's absence from the summit was a sign of his declining health. Others believe that he was concerned about being arrested if he traveled to South Africa. The BRICS summit was held under the shadow of the war in Ukraine. The leaders of the four other BRICS countries condemned the war and called for an end to the violence.

The summit also discussed the global economic situation, which has been adversely affected by the war. The leaders agreed to work together to mitigate the impact of the war on their economies. Putin's absence from the summit was a setback for BRICS, which is seen as a counterweight to the West. However, the other BRICS countries have said that they will continue to work together despite Putin's absence.