Brazil's president lula cancels russia trip for brics summit following head injury

Brazil's president lula cancels russia trip for brics summit following head injury

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has cancelled his planned trip to Russia for the upcoming Brics summit due to a recent head injury. Medical professionals advised the 78-year-old president to avoid long-haul flights following a fall at his home that resulted in a minor brain haemorrhage.

The presidential office confirmed that Lula will participate in the Brics meeting via videoconference instead of attending in person.

He was scheduled to depart from Brasilia at 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Lula's doctor, Roberto Kalil, reported on GloboNews that the president sustained significant trauma to the back of his head, necessitating stitches and resulting in a small hemorrhage in the temporal-frontal area. Kalil emphasised the importance of monitoring Lula's condition, noting that any brain injury could worsen without proper observation. Fortunately, he stated that Lula is doing well and can continue with normal activities.

A medical report from Sirio Libanes Hospital in Brasilia indicated that Lula had suffered a laceration to the occipital region of his head during the incident, which occurred on Saturday night. The report advised against long-distance air travel but confirmed that he was otherwise fit to carry out his regular duties.

In Lula's absence, Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira will lead the Brazilian delegation at the Brics summit, which is set to begin on Tuesday in Kazan, Russia. The summit will convene leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and other partner nations.

This meeting marks Lula’s first opportunity for face-to-face discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin this year. The two leaders had previously discussed a joint proposal aimed at resolving the conflict in Ukraine during a phone call in September.