/RUSSIA: Putin Likely To Skip G20 Summit, Lavrov Expected To Stand In

Russian President Vladimir Putin will most probably skip the G20 summit in Bali this month, business daily Vedomosti reports citing a diplomatic source, with another contact close to the presidential administration adding that no preparations have been made for Putin's potential trip. Both sources told the newspaper that Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will likely represent Russia in Putin's stead.

• Indonesian President Widodo told the Financial Times Monday that he had a "strong impression" that Putin would not attend the event after the two discussed the matter by phone last week.
• Should Putin participate in the summit, he would cross paths with the leaders of Western nations which have pushed for his diplomatic isolation over Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
• Note that Ukrainian President Zelensky has also been invited to the summit. It is unlikely that he will be able to attend in person, but may dial in from Kyiv.
• Zelensky had earlier stated that he will opt out if Putin attends the summit, as the destruction wrought by the Russian invasion raised the bar for the resumption of any bilateral diplomacy.
• Kremlin spokesman Peskov said that the final decision about Putin's attendance will be announced this week.