Russian President Vladimir Putin will not be attending the upcoming BRICS summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, due to an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant issued against him for alleged war crimes in Ukraine. South Africa, as the host country and a signatory to the ICC treaty, would have been obligated to arrest Putin if he set foot on its soil.

To avoid this diplomatic conundrum, South Africa lobbied for months to persuade Putin to stay home. While he will participate via video call and address the delegates, his absence marks the first time the ICC has issued an arrest warrant against the head of a UN Security Council permanent member.

The BRICS summit, attended by leaders from Brazil, India, China, and South Africa, will discuss expanding membership and promoting economic cooperation and collaboration in areas such as health, education, and climate change.