On October 21, 2024, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić announced that Serbia will send a four-member delegation to the BRICS summit scheduled for October 22-24 in Kazan, Russia. Vučić informed Russian President Vladimir Putin of his decision, stating that he would not attend the summit personally.
The delegation will include Vice Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin, Defense Minister Bratislav Gašić, Economy Minister Adriana Mesaroš, and Nenad Popović, the curator of international economic cooperation. Vučić also mentioned that Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis are expected to visit Serbia on October 23, followed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Vučić noted that despite the high-profile visits, it would have been challenging for him to travel to Russia due to various circumstances, which he indicated Putin is aware of. He emphasized Serbia's stance of not joining any of the 44 sanctions imposed by the European Union against Moscow this year, which he claimed Putin appreciates.
In a recent phone conversation with Putin, Vučić expressed gratitude for Russia's support in providing Serbia with sufficient gas supplies at favorable prices, as the current contract is set to expire in March 2025. The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations across various sectors.
Additionally, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva canceled his trip to Russia for the BRICS summit due to medical advice following an injury. He will participate in the summit via video conference. Brazil, alongside China, has been advocating for its own peace initiative regarding Ukraine.
BRICS, an informal group consisting of Russia, Brazil, India, China, and South Africa, has been undergoing expansion discussions, with recent invitations extended to Argentina, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates for full membership.