The participation of non-G20 member Ukraine is Jakarta’s offer of a compromise for its refusal to bar G20 member Russia from informal confederation meetings after Western pressure.
The government of the Southeast Asian island kingdom of Indonesia has invited the presidents of Russia and Ukraine, Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky, to the G20 summit on the island of Bali in November. Indonesian President Joko Widodo confirmed this commitment on Friday in the dispute over Russia’s exclusion from the G20 because of its attack on Ukraine.
Western countries, particularly the US, pushed for Russia to be excluded from meetings of the top 20 industrial and emerging countries group. Indonesia holds the G20 presidency this year and has refused to give in to Western pressure. US President Joe Biden, among others, then proposed an invitation from Ukraine, which does not actually belong to the G20.
According to Widodo, he spoke with Kremlin chief Putin on Thursday. “On this occasion, President Putin thanked Indonesia for inviting him to the G20 summit and said he would participate,” said Widodo (60). Indonesia maintains good relations with Russia, obtains various military goods such as warships and fighter planes, and also has strong economic and tourist ties with Russia. However, Indonesia is also trying to maintain good relations with Western countries. In the vote in early March at the UN General Assembly to condemn the Russian attack on Ukraine, Indonesia voted against Russia along with 140 other countries.
Zelensky said on Wednesday that the Indonesian president had invited him. The Ukrainian did not initially confirm his participation on Friday.
(APA/AFP/red.)