South Africa's Diplomatic Headache with Putin and BRICS Summit.

South Africa's warm relationship with Russia has caused growing Western perception that the country has decided to back Moscow in its war against Ukraine, and perhaps even to send it weapons. South Africa's initial response to Russia's invasion was to call on Moscow to withdraw its forces "immediately". Soon afterwards it changed tack, declined to condemn the Kremlin at the United Nations, and adopted a policy of neutrality towards the conflict. However, that neutral stance has since been undermined by a series of actions and statements that have riled Ukraine's allies.