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US frowns on Indonesia's invite to Putin for G20 summit
Indonesia faced down US opposition and invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to the G20 summit in November, as well as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
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US President Joe Biden speaks outside the Royal Castle about the Russian war in Ukraine March 26, 2022, in Warsaw, Poland.
(AFP/Brendan Smialowski )
Indonesia faced down US opposition and invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to the G20 summit in November, as well as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, its leader said Friday.
Jakarta, which holds the G20 presidency this year, has been under heavy pressure from the West, led by the United States, to exclude Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, but it has argued it must remain "impartial".
"I have invited President Zelensky to attend the G20 summit," said President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, suggesting a compromise had been reached following pressure from US President Joe Biden and others to allow Ukraine's participation to strike a balance.
Putin confirmed in a phone call with Jokowi that he will attend the summit, to take place on Bali island, the Indonesian leader said in a livestreamed address.
Russia is a G20 member, while Ukraine is not.
Biden's administration made clear its view on Putin's invitation Friday.
"The President has expressed publicly his opposition to President Putin attending the G20. We have welcomed the Ukrainians attending," Biden Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in Washington.
