Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov (TASS)

According to Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, the BRICS expansion will strengthen the group, and the topic will be covered at the forthcoming summit in South Africa.

"We believe that in one form or another, the expansion of the BRICS will contribute to the further development and strengthening of this organization. The form, the extent [of the expansion] - this is exactly what we will discuss during the upcoming summit," Peskov told reporters on Thursday.

The BRICS group will examine the admission of new nations, including Argentina, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, Peskov added.

"This is a matter [the enlargement of BRICS] of discussion, we do not think that we need to get ahead of ourselves and declare our position before a discussion between the BRICS member states. In any case, we are talking about countries with which we have quite constructive interaction in various fields," he said.

Although the introduction of a single BRICS currency is now unachievable, Peskov stated that does not imply the topic should not be addressed.

"It is hardly possible to implement, but this does not mean that it does not need to be discussed. Discussions on this matter, of course, will continue," he told reporters.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today he would attend the BRICS conference taking place in South Africa.

"Pleased to speak with [South African] President Cyril Ramaphosa. Reviewed progress in bilateral cooperation as we celebrate 30th anniversary of our diplomatic relations. Look forward to participating in the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg later this month," Modi wrote on X [formerly known as Twitter].

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said claims to the contrary are untrue and that India is not opposed to the expansion of BRICS.

"We have seen some baseless speculations … that India has reservations against expansion [of BRICS]. This is simply not true," the spokesperson told reporters.

According to Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's press office, the Brazilian President will also personally attend the BRICS leaders' meeting, which will be held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from August 22 to 24.

Modi will not attend BRICS summit citing Putin's absence: Sputnik

It is worth noting that Sputnik reported earlier today that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be absent from the upcoming BRICS summit in South Africa.

The decision came about due to the absence of Russian President Vladimir Putin, which seems to have prompted a change in India's participation.

According to sources in the Indian government cited by the Russian news agency, BRICS members had previously reached an agreement to explore the expansion of memberships ahead of the summit.

Previously, Anil Sooklal, BRICS' ambassador from South Africa, revealed that twenty-two nations have formally applied to join the BRICS organization, and another twenty-two have informally expressed interest in joining the bloc.

Earlier on July 19 the South African presidency announced that Putin will not be attending the summit in person, "by mutual agreement." This comes after the US threatened to push South Africa out of the African Growth and Opportunity Act, which grants the country duty-free exports of most of its goods to the US if the Russian President attends the summit.

The International Criminal Court had issued an arrest warrant for Putin, even though it has no jurisdiction over Russia or its government, as Moscow has not signed the Rome statute which would have given the ICC the power to do so.