The Kremlin said today that Russia will take part at an “appropriate level” in the BRICS summit scheduled to be held in South Africa, without directly answering a question about whether the president Vladimir Putin will attend the meeting.

South Africa, a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC), should theoretically arrest Putin on an arrest warrant issued by the court for alleged war crimes. However, he has invited Putin to the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) summit of emerging economies to be held on August 22-24.

“Russia attaches great importance to the development of this form of integration. And Russia will take part in this summit at the appropriate level,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said at the regular press conference.

Pressed for a response on the possibility of the arrest warrant being implemented by South Africa, Peskov said: “Of course, we consider it the least possible for partner countries in such an important scheme to be guided by such illegal decisions.”Peskov obliged that “all details will be announced later,” without elaborating.

The ICC issued an arrest warrant in March for Putin, charging him with the war crime of forcibly removing children from Russian-held territory in Ukraine. Moscow denies committing war crimes, including forced displacement of children, and says the ICC has no authority as Russia is not a member.

Putin, only the third sitting president to have an arrest warrant issued by the ICC, is not likely to end up in court anytime soon. But the arrest warrant means he could be arrested and sent to The Hague if he travels to any of the ICC member states.