Room for Putin at G20 table, says Abbott
RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin is expected to attend the Group of 20 summit in Australia in November despite the tensions with the West.
RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin is expected to attend the Group of 20 summit in Australia in November despite a decision by one of the world’s peak groups, the G7, to ban him because of Russia’s incursions into Ukraine.
Tony Abbott, who will host leaders from the world’s 20 biggest economies, acknowledged the “grave concerns” over Russia’s behaviour in the Ukraine but said it was best that Mr Putin attend the Australian summit.
Asked last night if the G7 decision might see Mr Putin excluded from the G20 summit in Brisbane, the Prime Minister said the G20 had an economic focus as distinct from the wider focus of the G7, including on national security.
“Obviously there are very grave concerns about the behaviour of Russia in the Ukraine and I can understand why the G7 leaders were reluctant to sit down with President Putin at this time,” Mr Abbott said before attending D-Day commemorations in Normandy.
“But when it comes to the prosperity of the world, when it comes to the management of international finances, when it comes to harmonisation of taxation rules, when it comes to trying to promote global growth, I think it is best if we can include Russia.
“So at this point of time I’m expecting Russia to be well and truly part of the G20 in November.”
World leaders have come to France in recent days to mark the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings, setting up opportunities for leaders to talk on the sidelines of a formal lunch at a chateau in Normandy.
French President Francois Hollande, who yesterday opened the ceremonies by saying “I would like that today, on this 70th anniversary, the nation pays homage to all, civilians and soldiers’’, was hoping Mr Putin would meet Ukraine President-elect Petro Poroshenko in a symbolic step that would formalise Russian recognition of the country’s new leader.
US Secretary of State John Kerry met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Paris on Thursday ahead of the D-Day ceremonies.
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Pope Francis's coffin has arrived at Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica for burial after a moving funeral, before which Donald Trump met Volodymyr Zelensky in the Vatican.
Pope Francis lies in state in St Peter’s Basilica
Tens of thousands of mourners are lining up to pay their respects to the Argentine pontiff at the start of three days of public viewing ahead of his funeral on Saturday, following a solemn procession to transfer his coffin to the basilica.