The embassy reported that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov participated in a special meeting of the BRICS Foreign Ministers via video conference on July 20.

“A thorough exchange of views took place on the development and strengthening of the strategic partnership of the five states, including plans for the institutional development of the association,” they added.

The Russian Embassy in India added that “topical issues pertaining to preparation of the forthcoming XV BRICS summit in Johannesburg on August 22-24 were also discussed.”

Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, was informed earlier on Wednesday by South Africa that he would not be visiting the nation for the summit. Putin will practically attend the conference, according to a later announcement from the Kremlin.

S Jaishankar, the minister of external affairs, participated in the BRICS Foreign Ministers virtual summit on Thursday, focusing on the upcoming annual summit in South Africa.

Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa are the five countries that make up BRICS.

Jaishankar described the meeting as ‘helpful’ on Twitter for moving the BRICS agenda forward.

“Today’s exceptional BRICS Foreign Ministers virtual meeting, which I attended with Brazil, Russia, China, and South Africa, was fruitful for moving the BRICS agenda forward. Jaishankar wrote in his tweet, “And getting ready for the summit meeting.

The 15th BRICS Summit will take place in South Africa from August 22–24 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Sandton, Johannesburg.

On January 1, 2023, South Africa assumed the role of BRICS Chair with the slogan “BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development, and Inclusive Multilateralism”.

“The theme informs the Chair’s five priorities for 2023, which are: Creating a partnership for a just transition that is equitable; Transforming education and skill development for the future; Unlocking opportunities through the African Continental Free Trade Area; Strengthening post-pandemic socio-economic recovery and the achievement of the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development; and Strengthening multilateralism, including working towards genuine reform of global governance institutions.

Notably, Russia hosted the inaugural BRICS summit in 2009. South Africa was invited to join BRICS after the organization’s founding in 2010.

The theme of the 14th BRICS Summit, “Foster High-quality BRICS Partnership, Usher in a New Era for Global Development,” was virtually held in June 2022.