Vladimir Putin accepted an invitation from Indonesian President Joko Widodo to take part in the G20 summit this November and confirmed his readiness to come.
This was reported by the Russian news agency “Interfax”quoting Putin’s aide Yuri Ushakov:
“Yes, we have confirmed that our participation in the summit is also expected. They are still inviting in person. There is still enough time. I hope that the pandemic will allow this event to be held in person.”
The aide to the Russian president stressed that Indonesia, despite pressure from the West to withdraw the invitation, still invited Putin to the meeting. The G20 leaders’ summit will be held November 15-16 in Bali. In 2022, it will be hosted by Indonesia, which is a permanent member of the format.
US President Joe Biden personally asked Widodo in April to prevent Putin from attending this year’s summit. American diplomats explained why the invitation of the Russian Federation should be withdrawn, and the US President urged that Russia should be excluded from this format.
On April 29, Widodo, at the urging of US officials, in a telephone conversation with President Volodymyr Zelensky, invited him to take part in the summit. On May 27, Zelensky confirmed, reports “UP”that he will take part in it with a reservation: he hopes that Putin will not be there.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, opposes a boycott of Putin’s attendance at the G20 summit. She considers it essential that Western leaders be able to tell the Russian president whatever they think.
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