Russian President Vladimir Putin will not be attending the upcoming meeting of G20 leaders in India next month, according to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. Peskov stated on Friday that the exact format of Putin’s participation in the summit has yet to be determined.
The G20 summit, scheduled for September 9-10 in New Delhi, will mark the culmination of India’s presidency of the group of leading world economies. India took over the rotating presidency from Indonesia in December of last year.
This announcement comes after Putin chose to participate in the recent BRICS summit in Johannesburg via video link instead of traveling to South Africa. Although South Africa had extended an invitation to the Russian president, his arrival would have created a difficult situation for the host nation due to its commitments to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The ICC has formally accused Putin of abducting Ukrainian children, allegations that Moscow has vehemently denied. The Russian government has described the ICC as politically compromised. If Putin had set foot on South African soil, the host country would have been technically obligated to attempt to detain him.
Unlike South Africa, India is not a signatory to the Rome Statute, the legal treaty that establishes the jurisdiction of the ICC. However, past G20 events have been overshadowed by a US-led campaign to isolate Russia diplomatically as punishment for its actions in Ukraine.
During the G20 summit in Bali last November, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov led Moscow’s delegation. Prior to the meeting, Western media reported that the office of US President Joe Biden was preparing contingency plans to prevent him from being in the same room as Putin, should the Russian leader attend in person.
As details of Putin’s participation in the G20 summit continue to be worked out, it remains to be seen how his absence will impact the discussions and outcomes of the gathering. The absence of the Russian president may provide an opportunity for other leaders to focus on pressing global issues and chart a course for cooperation among the world’s largest economies.
In conclusion, President Putin will not be attending the G20 summit in India, and the format of his participation is still under consideration. This follows his decision to participate remotely in the recent BRICS summit in South Africa. The accusations against Putin by the ICC have been dismissed by Moscow, and India’s non-signatory status to the Rome Statute eliminates the difficulties faced by South Africa in hosting the Russian president. The absence of Putin may have implications for the discussions and outcomes of the G20 summit, allowing other leaders to prioritize key global issues.
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