On Thursday, Putin is set to meet with Guterres, who will be making his first visit to Russia in more than two years. Guterres has repeatedly criticized Russia’s action in Ukraine.

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry blasted U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Monday for what it said was his acceptance of an invitation from Russian President Vladimir Putin to a BRICS summit, while staying away from a "peace summit" on the war in Ukraine.

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin will meet UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Thursday to discuss the Ukraine conflict, in the UN chief’s first trip to Russia in more than two years, the Kremlin said.

Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has canceled his trip to Russia for a BRICS summit after an accident at home that left him with a cut in the neck

President Vladimir Putin will play host to Russia’s biggest gathering of world leaders, including the heads of 32 countries, since the invasion of Ukraine.

Russia wants the BRICS summit to showcase the rising clout of the non-Western world, but Moscow's partners from China, India, Brazil and the Arab world are urging President Vladimir Putin to find a way to end the war in Ukraine.

Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic says he won’t attend an annual BRICS summit this week as the Balkan country tries to balance its ties with Russia with efforts to join the European Union and to improve relations with US.