Putin Won’t Attend BRICS Summit in Brazil Due to ICC Arrest Warrant

The Kremlin says Putin will instead attend virtually, citing complications related to the arrest warrant.

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting on forthcoming Russia–Ukraine talks in Istanbul, in Moscow on May 14, 2025. Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP

Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend the upcoming BRICS summit in Brazil in person due to the International Criminal Court’s (ICC’s) arrest warrant against him, a senior Kremlin official said.

“The President will participate in the main events of this summit via video link. This is due to certain difficulties, in the context of the ICC requirements,” Yuri Ushakov, a top foreign policy aide to Putin, said on June 25. “The Brazilian government was unable to take a clear position that would allow our president to take part in this meeting.”