The gathering defies predictions that the war in Ukraine and an international arrest warrant against Putin would keep him off the global stage.

Two dozen world leaders will meet in Russia next week for a summit of the BRICS group, an alliance of emerging economies that the Kremlin hopes will challenge Western "hegemony".

Several world leaders will meet in Russia next week for a summit of the Brics group, an alliance of emerging economies that the Kremlin hopes will challenge Western "hegemony." The summit will be the biggest in Russia since the Ukraine conflict began and comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin seeks to show Western attempts to isolate Moscow over the two-and-a-half-year offensive have failed.

Serbia's government has come under pressure from Western countries to align with the bloc and impose sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. Vucic said on Sunday that Se