Putin and Zelenskyy to face off on Australia’s doorstep for the G20 summit in Indonesia

The enemy combatants could come face-to-face for the first time since the invasion after the Kremlin confirmed Russia’s attendance at the G20 summit in Bali.

Vladimir Putin and Volodymy Zelenskyy could meet in person for the first time since war broke out after both were invited to the G20 summit on Australia’s doorstep.

The Kremlin confirmed on Monday local time that the Russian president fully intends to travel to Indonesia for the summit in Bali this November.

“We have received the official invitation … and we have responded positively, saying we are interested in participating,” Yuri Ushakov, an aide to Putin, said.

The invitation to Russia comes despite Indonesia already inviting Ukraine’s president as a guest, as well as pressure from the United States and its western allies on Jakarta to exclude Moscow.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky in 2019 and 2021, before Moscow’s invasion. Picture: AFP

Pictured in March, 2022, the war has taken its toll on the two combatants. They could come face-to-face for the first time on Australias door step in Bali. Picture: AFP

Mr Ushakov, however, said there’s “a lot of time” before the November 15-16 summit in Bali, and that there could be changes to the manner that Russia participates.

“But for now, the invitation is for participation in person,” Ushakov said.

During the Covid pandemic in October, Putin joined the G20 summit in Rome via video-link.

Indonesia, which holds the group’s rotating presidency this year, caused a stir by inviting Russia to the gathering of the world’s 20 major economies, which includes Australia.

Indonesian President and G20 chairman Joko Widodo, who set off to Europe as a guest for the G7 summit, said he plans to visit Russia and Ukraine to urge Putin and Zelenskyy to peace talks.

“The mission is to ask … President Zelenskyy to open a dialogue forum for peace, to build peace because the war has to be stopped,” he told a press conference in Jakarta.

He plans to visit Moscow three days later, on June 30, with the same mission.

“I will ask President Putin to open a dialogue and to immediately have a ceasefire and to stop the war,” he said.

Putin appeared at the G20 during the pandemic via video. The Russian president, pictured with Emmanuel Macron, is said to be concerned about Covid. Picture: AFP.

Indonesia has remained neutral in the war and has refused to send weapons to Ukraine in response to a request from Zelenskyy.

The United States and Europe failed to pressure Widodo into rescinding his invitation to Putin following Russia’s offensive in Ukraine and accusations of war crimes.

But Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz indicated he was still open to taking part, despite Putin’s expected attendance.

Scholz, who is currently hosting the G7 summit of top industrialised nations, said he would make a final decision on whether to attend “shortly before departure”.

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen likewise said on Sunday that she did not rule out sitting at the same table with Putin at the G20.

She said it was “important to tell him to his face what we think of him”. G20 nations make up about 80 per cent of total world economic output, while the G7 contributes about 31 per cent.