The Kremlin said Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin does not plan to participate by videoconference in the G20 summit in Indonesia, after confirming that he will not travel to the country and that the delegation will be led by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
«It is not planned,» Russian Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in response to a question about the possibility of Putin’s sending a message to the G20 by telematic means, as reported by the Russian news agency Interfax.
US President Joe Biden said in March that Moscow should not participate in this group, in retaliation for the invasion «that triggered the biggest conflict in Europe since World War II» and «generated fears of nuclear escalation».
Despite this request, his Indonesian counterpart, Joko Widodo, refused to withdraw the invitation to Putin because of the neutrality policies of his country, which holds the rotating presidency of the G20. The Indonesian leader acknowledged on Monday that he did not believe it was possible for Putin to attend the summit.
