OREANDA-NEWS Paris should explain to Moscow the purpose and reason for the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to the BRICS summit, which will be held in South Africa from August 22 to 24. This was stated by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova, RIA Novosti reports.

"It would be nice if they would tell us why they want to [attend the BRICS summit]. Do they want to establish some kind of contact once again in order to show the activity of Paris, or is it some kind of Trojan horse - let them tell it themselves. I think that first of all, the Elysee Palace or those who will be delegated should speak out," the representative of Macron's desire commented.

Earlier it was reported that Macron appealed to his colleague from South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa with a request to give him the opportunity to take part in the upcoming BRICS summit in Johannesburg, South Africa. "This possibility was discussed during Macron's telephone talks with Ramaphosa on June 3," diplomatic sources said in a statement.