President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia with President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa at the BRICS summit in Brasília in 2019. But on Wednesday, Mr. Putin gave South Africa a way out. South Africa has faced withering criticism from the United States for refusing to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Mr. Putin “became easier to persuade as a result of the recent domestic problems he is having,” said the official. South Africa permitted Mr. al-Bashir to fly in and out of Johannesburg unimpeded for a meeting of the African Union.

Source: New York Times July 19, 2023 14:21 UTC