South Africa’s President, Cyril Ramaphosa, has said that Russian President, Vladimir Putin, will be physically present at the BRICS Summit in South Africa despite an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC), South African news outlet, Eyewitness News reported.
There have been suggestions that the event could happen virtually. However, South Africa assured at a meeting of the BRICS Business Council in Sandton that the summit will be held live, rather than online.
“There were rumors that this too could become an online summit – no. It is going to be face to face, eyeball to eyeball,” President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa said.
BRICS Business Council head, Stavros Nicoalou, also disclosed that all heads of state from the five BRICS nations, Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa would attend the August’s gathering.
At least 22 heads of state already confirmed their attendance at the summit, scheduled to take place in Johannesburg.
It should be noted that the visit of Russian dictator, Putin is still in question, since the ICC has issued a warrant for his arrest for the deportation of Ukrainian children.
South Africa would be required to arrest Putin in case of his arrival.