Stanley Widianto and Angie Teo

JAKARTA (Reuters – Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend a G20 summit to be held in Indonesia late this year. The statement was made by Russia’s ambassador, who dismissed claims that Russia would be banned from the G20.

Sources familiar with the talks told Reuters that the United States and its Western Allies are evaluating whether Russia should be included in the Group of Twenty major economic economies after its invasion of Ukraine.

Sources said that Russia’s bid would most likely be rejected by the rest of the group. It raises the possibility for some countries not attending the G20, however.

Russia’s ambassador in Indonesia (currently holding the G20 rotating chair) stated that Putin planned to travel to Bali to attend the G20 summit.

It will depend on many factors, not least the COVID situation. But it is improving. “So far, his intention has been… he wishes to,” Ambassador Lyudmila vorobieva said at a press conference.

When asked about Russia’s possible exclusion from the G20 she replied that it was an opportunity to talk economic topics and not in a situation like Ukraine.

These economic issues cannot be solved if Russia is expelled from such a forum. But, it is not possible without Russia.

The foreign ministry of Indonesia declined to respond to calls to exclude Russia from the G20.

Russia attacked its southern neighbor on February 24th.

Putin claims Russia has launched a “special military operation” against the Ukrainian government to prevent it from genocide. This accusation is rejected by the West as a fabrication.

Vorobieva advised Indonesia to resist Western pressure.

Vorobieva said that Russia actively participated in every G20 meeting.

BUSY WITH ANOTHER THING

Russia faces an assault of international sanctions from Western countries, which aims to isolate it from the world economy. These include closing it off of SWIFT’s global banking messaging system and restricting its central bank dealings.

Poland claimed Tuesday it had proposed to the U.S. Commerce officials that Russia replace it within the G20 Group and was given a “positive reply”.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz indicated that G20 members would need to resolve the matter, however it wasn’t a priority right now.

Scholz stated that it was imperative that countries involved in the WTO or G20 discussions take place and they do not decide on their own.

It is clear that our lives are not occupied with such things as meeting up in these meetings. A ceasefire is urgently needed.

Jake Sullivan (U.S. national security advisor) was asked by journalists at the White House if President Joe Biden might push Russia from the G20. He said that Russia cannot continue to be a part of international institutions or the international community.

He said that the United States would consult its allies prior to making any further pronouncements.

An unnamed source in the European Union confirms that Russia was discussed at G20 meetings.

“It has been made very clear to Indonesia that Russia’s presence at forthcoming ministerial meetings would be highly problematic for European countries,” said the source, adding there was, however, no clear process for excluding a country.

Dody Budi Waluyo, Indonesia’s deputy central banking governor, stated that Indonesia is neutral in its position and will use G20 leadership to attempt to fix problems. Russia, however, has made a commitment to go and no other member could stop it.