MOSCOW, December 23. /TASS/. Russia has received confirmations from some countries that they are ready to become BRICS partners, so they will be granted the status from January 1, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov told reporters.

"One of the important results of the summit [in Kazan] was the establishment of the category of BRICS partner countries and coming to terms on a list of 13 states. Invitations were sent to these states. As of this time, confirmations of readiness to become a BRICS partner country have been received from Belarus, Bolivia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda and Uzbekistan," he said.

"From January 1, 2025, they will officially acquire the status of BRICS partner states," Ushakov went on to say. "But we expect that in the near future responses will come from four more countries, to which invitations were also sent."

The Kremlin aide added that Eritrea is also seeking to work with BRICS.

Representatives of partner countries will be invited to certain meetings at BRICS summits and meetings of foreign ministers.

"We also believe it is right to involve partners in meetings of high representatives in charge of security issues, parliamentary forum and other events," the Kremlin aide said.