Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has arrived for the G20 summit on the Indonesian island of Bali. Amid huge international tensions over Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, he will be there in the coming days to represent Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin, who has canceled his participation.
Russian state media released a video showing Lavrov stepping off his plane in Bali after dark on Sunday evening (local time) and being greeted by a performance by Indonesian dancers. Lavrov traveled from the ASEAN summit to Bali.
At a meeting of G20 foreign ministers in July, he caused a scandal when he left the meeting early.
The Kremlin only confirmed last week that Putin will not attend the meeting with the heads of state and government of the other G20 countries. The 70-year-old should have expected heavy criticism for the war he ordered against Ukraine.
After the recent military defeats of his army, the time for a clash with his Western opponents would have been particularly unfavorable from his point of view. On the other hand, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wants to address the meeting in the resort town of Nusa Dua via video.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
