It will be only Putin's second foreign trip since the start of Moscow's armed intervention in Ukraine on Feb. 24, following a trip to Central Asia at the end of June.
Pakistan aspired to attend the BRICS outreach event for emerging economies that was joined by Algeria, Argentina, Cambodia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Fiji, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Senegal, Uzbekistan, Malaysia and Thailand. However, India through swift and deft diplomacy blocked Pakistan from the event. Reportedly, China being the chair of the event, agreed to India in keeping its ‘all-weather ally’ out from the event.
It said Fogel committed "large-scale drugs smuggling" by crossing the Russian border, as well as "large-scale illegal storage of drugs without a commercial purpose".
The French leader has been criticised by Ukraine and eastern European allies for what they perceived as his ambiguous backing for Ukraine in the war against Russia.