Putin has not yet decided whether to attend the G20 Summit in Brazil.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has not yet decided whether to attend the G20 Summit in Brazil this year, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said when answering reporters on September 4.

"So far, no decision has been made on this issue," the Kremlin spokesman said.

"Russia continues its work within the G20 framework. The Russian ambassador to the G20 continues to work actively with his colleagues. We are defending our interests there. But the president (Putin) has not yet made a decision," Peskov added.

Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photo: TASS

Since Moscow launched a military campaign in Ukraine in February 2022 and the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for the Russian President in March 2023, the issue of Mr. Putin's foreign trips has received special attention.

Mr. Peskov told reporters on September 4 that the ICC arrest warrant would not be able to limit Russian President Putin's contacts with countries that he cares about.

“This whole story with the ICC… cannot and will not be an obstacle to the development of Russia's relations with partner countries interested in developing bilateral relations and covering international relations,” the Russian president's spokesman said.

“Much of the world has a much broader vision of the prospects for international cooperation than the ICC blinds it to,” he added.

According to Mr. Peskov, the authorities see "great interest in Russia from most of the world. And we are interested too."

During the period since the ICC arrest warrant was issued, which Moscow considers invalid because Russia is not a member, Mr Putin has made foreign trips to "friendly countries" but not to countries that have signed the Rome Statute that established the ICC.

The Russian president did not attend the 15th BRICS Summit in South Africa in August 2023 in person to avoid embarrassing the host country because South Africa is an ICC member state.

On September 3, the Russian leader made an official visit to the first ICC member country, Mongolia.

Ukraine called Mongolia's decision not to arrest Mr Putin "a heavy blow to the ICC and the international criminal justice system".

Mongolia has spoken out on the issue. A Mongolian government spokesman said: "Mongolia imports 95% of its petroleum products and more than 20% of its electricity from neighboring countries, including Russia and China, and these supplies are vital to the country's survival."

"Mongolia has always maintained a policy of neutrality in all diplomatic relations, as evidenced by our official statements so far," the spokesman added.

Minh Duc (According to TASS)

Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/ong-putin-van-chua-quyet-dinh-co-den-du-thuong-dinh-g20-o-brazil-hay-khong-204240904210341452.htm