Russia is rolling out the red carpet to its allies on Tuesday, as it hosts the latest BRICS summit in a show of strength to the West. The group, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa,

President Vladimir Putin will play host to Russia’s biggest gathering of world leaders, including the heads of 32 countries, since the invasion of Ukraine.

The leaders of the world’s top emerging economies have begun arriving in the western Russian city of Kazan where president Vladimir Putin will host the 16th Brics summit, the first gathering of the bloc since its expansion last year.