The U.S. slapped heavy sanctions on Russia after its Feb. 2022 invasion of Ukraine, including major blocks on the transactions of Russian financial institutions, banning U.S. imports of Russian energy products, and personal sanctions on Russian oligarchs in Putin's inner circle.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping discussed the war in Ukraine and relations with the West at length on the first day of the BRICS summit, the Kremlin said on Tuesday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is presiding over his largest international gathering in nearly three years this week, as Russia hosts the BRICS economic bloc's annual summit. Why it matters: Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 spurred an avalanche of Western sanctions and condemnations,