Reuters and The Straits Times are reporting on news that Russian President, Vladimir Putin may miss next week’s G20 Summit, according to an interview with Indonesian President Joko Widodo in the Financial Times, but the Indonesian foreign ministry and presidential palace have not immediately responded to Reuters’ requests for comment.
Reports are saying that Mr. Widodo said a conversation with Mr. Putin last week left him with a “strong impression” that the Russian leader would not be attending the meeting in Bali, which is expected to be dominated by tensions over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
As G20 host, Indonesia has managed to resist pressure from Western countries and Ukraine to disinvite Russia from the leaders’ summit and expel it from the group, saying it does not have the authority to do so without a consensus among all members.
Mr. Widodo emphasised in an interview with the Financial Times that Russia remains welcome at the summit, which he feared was being overshadowed by a “very worrying” rise in international tensions.
“The G20 is not meant to be a political forum. It’s meant to be about economics and development,” he said.
Indonesia has also invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has said he will not take part if Mr. Putin does.
Several other world leaders, including United States President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping, are expected to attend, say Reuters.
Source: The Straits Times, Reuters. Photo: SetPres
