Russian president Putin will attend G20 summit in Indonesia
LONDON, Aug 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russia has no moral right to sit at the Group of 20 nations while it presses on with its invasion of Ukraine, a spokesperson for Britain’s foreign ministry said.
“Russia has no moral right to sit at the G20 while its aggression in Ukraine persists,” the spokesperson said.
“We welcome Indonesia’s efforts to ensure that the impacts of Russia’s war are considered in G20 meetings, as well as indications that Ukraine may be represented by President (Volodymyr) Zelenskiy at the G20 Leaders Summit.”
Indonesia will host the summit in November and has said that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping will attend.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo, popularly known as Jokowi, said: “Xi Jinping will come. President Putin has also told me he will come.”
Indonesia is chairing the Group of 20 major economies and has faced pressure from Western countries to withdraw its invitation to Putin over his country’s invasion on Ukraine, which his government calls a “special military operation”.
Jokowi has sought to position himself as mediator between the warring countries, and has travelled to meet both Ukraine’s and Russia’s presidents. This week, Jokowi said both countries have accepted Indonesia as a “bridge of peace”.
Leaders of major countries, including US President Joe Biden, are set to meet in Indonesia’s resort island of Bali in November. Indonesia has also invited Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskiy. — NNN-AGENCIES
