Putin gets G20 Summit cold feet

Russian President Vladimir Putin may have cold feet as news comes that he may attend the G20 Summit virtually. According to Thai PBS World, Western countries have put pressure on the Summit’s host country of Indonesia to withdraw Putin’s invitation, but it has resisted. The host country says it does not have the authority to withdraw such an invitation without a consensus among its members.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo has been tasked with trying to keep the peace between global powers before the first G20 Summit meeting since the Russia-Ukraine conflict spurred worldwide condemnation. Putin has been met with extreme criticism, despite his calling the invasion a “special military operation.” The Coordinating Minister of Maritime and Investment Affairs told reporters in Bali that Joko Widodo has tried to let everyone cool down.

“The G20 is not meant to be a political forum. It’s meant to be about economics and development.”

The president told the Financial Times that although Putin was welcome at the summit, he is worried about rising international tensions as a result of his attendance.

But, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will, instead, represent Putin at the Summit, with the president planning to join via video conference. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is also invited to the Summit but says he won’t attend if Putin does. Sources say Zelensky is also expected to join virtually. US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping are also expected to join the summit which commences in Bali on November 15.