While Cuba and Bolivia were accepted into the BRICS bloc as associate states, the Bolivarian regimen of President Nicolás Maduro blamed Brazil for Venezuela's exclusion.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Wednesday urged the international community, during his telematic appearance at the BRICS Summit in Kazan (Russia), to resolve the armed conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro landed late Friday in Kazan, Russia, for a guest appearance at the BRICS Summit as he intends to have his country join the bloc shortly. Upon arriving alongside First Lady and Congresswoman Cilia Flores, he was welcomed by local authorities. Also at the airport were Venezuela's Executive Vice President Delcy Rodríguez and Foreign Minister Yván Gil, who got to Kazan the day before.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was reported to have been very active Monday at the Alvorada Palace following Saturday's domestic accident that prevented him from traveling to the BRICS Summit starting Tuesday in Kazan, Russia.