South Africa extended an invitation to Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend the BRICS summit via Zoom instead of in person.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Putin, forcing South Africa to comply with the ICC’s decisions as a signatory to the Rome Statute.

The move puts South Africa’s ruling party in an uncomfortable position, as it had previously declined to support sanctions against Russia or condemn its aggression in Ukraine.

President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed a special government committee to consider the country’s options after the arrest warrant was issued.

However, the committee was unable to find any other options, leading to negotiations between Pretoria and Moscow.

South Africa attempted to withdraw from the ICC in 2016 after ignoring an arrest warrant for former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.

The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Putin in March of this year, accusing him of forcibly deporting thousands of children from Ukraine, making it unsafe for him to travel to any ICC member country.