Vladimir Putin will not go to G20 leaders summit in Bali

Following months of speculation, the Russian President will be represented next week by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Vladimir Putin delivers a speech in Moscow on Wednesday. Picture: AFP

Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend the G20 leaders’ summit in Bali next week, Moscow’s embassy in Indonesia said on Thursday.

“I can confirm that (Foreign Minister) Sergei Lavrov will lead the Russian delegation to the G20. President Putin’s program is still being worked out, he could participate virtually,” said Yulia Tomskaya, the embassy’s chief of protocol.

US President Joe Biden, who has called Mr Putin a “war criminal” and who will be attending the summit, has said he had no intention of meeting the Russian President in Bali if he went.

The decision, which follows months of speculation, comes as Moscow is suffering losses in its Ukraine campaign and as the Kremlin tries to shield itself from Western condemnation at the November 15-16 summit.

Another source with knowledge of Russia’s planning for the Bali event confirmed that Mr Putin would be replaced by Mr Lavrov. The person said it was unclear whether the Russian leader would attend virtually.

Moscow’s top diplomat walked out of a July G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in Bali after officials condemned Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

Host Indonesia pursues a neutral foreign policy and has rebuffed Western calls to disinvite Russia from the summit. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to attend the summit virtually.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo said Mr Putin would be invited to the summit despite the invasion, prompting a flurry of Western criticism. In August, he said Mr Putin had accepted the invitation. Mr Zelensky threatened to boycott the summit if Mr Putin attended. Ukraine is not a member of the G20 bloc.

AFP