'If Putin Appears at the November Summit...' G20 Prepares Response Scenarios

Efforts to Mention Sovereignty and International Law in Joint Statement
Possibility of Not Issuing Joint Statement if Rejected

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] G20 member countries have begun reviewing scenarios in preparation for the possibility that Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend the summit scheduled to be held in Bali, Indonesia, this November.

On the 5th (local time), Bloomberg News reported, "If President Putin decides to attend the G20 summit, which is seven months away, member countries are preparing accordingly." Citing sources familiar with the discussions among member countries, the news agency said, "Possible scenarios include some member country leaders not attending, sending lower-level delegations, or attending only via teleconference." Russia was expelled from the Group of Eight (G8) after the forced annexation of Crimea in 2014, but it is still included in the G20.

U.S. officials have also begun confidential discussions about whether President Joe Biden will skip the event if President Putin participates. As of now, President Biden is expected to attend the November summit.

Another scenario under review is to mention condemnation of the war and international law principles such as United Nations principles and sovereignty in the joint statement. Bloomberg explained that if this is rejected, member countries might choose not to issue a joint statement at all.

A source told the news agency that member countries are persuading Indonesia to exclude President Putin from the meeting or at least to persuade him to condemn actions in Ukraine. It is even more problematic for the G7 countries, which have already strongly criticized President Putin as a 'war criminal,' to attend the meeting alongside him. However, at the end of last month, the host country Indonesia announced plans to invite all leaders, including President Putin.

President Putin also attended the G20 summit held in Australia at the end of 2014, after the forced annexation of Crimea. At that time, he was largely shunned by other leaders and left the meeting early after facing a barrage of criticism. A famous anecdote recounts that when President Putin approached Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to shake hands, Harper replied, "I will shake your hand, but I have only one thing to say to you," and said, "You must leave Ukraine."