Australia concerned about Putin’s plans to attend G20 summit

Sydney, Australia, Mar 24 (EFE).- Australia’s prime minister said he was concerned Thursday about the possible attendance of Russian President Vladimir Putin at the next G20 summit, scheduled for November in Indonesia.

“The idea of sitting around the table with Vladimir Putin…for me is a step too far,” Scott Morrison told reporters in Melbourne.

The leader also pointed out that the United States has already accused Russia of committing war crimes in Ukraine during its “violent and aggressive” invasion, which “shatters the international rule of law.”

Morrison’s remarks come a day after Russia’s ambassador to Indonesia, Lyudmila Vorobieva, said that the Russian president plans to attend the G20 summit in Bali.

Morrison, who ruled out a boycott of the summit if Putin attended, said that Australia has also expressed concern about Russia’s participation in the G20 ministerial meetings, which will address issues ranging from the challenges of the Indo-Pacific region to the responsibility of the big social media giants in the harassment and bullying people face on social media networks.

In reaffirming his condemnation of Russia, in line with his allies, Morrison recalled that his government had announced a ban on the export of alumina and aluminum ore to Russia on Sunday.

The Oceania country has also imposed a series of sanctions against Russian banks and government entities, as well as against Putin, and almost 500 officials, senior government officials, military officials and oligarchs from Russia, including Roman Abramovich.

Australia has also sent lethal and humanitarian aid to Ukraine and sued Russia in mid-March, together with the Netherlands, over the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, which was hit by a missile launched by pro-Russian forces while flying over eastern Ukraine in 2014, leaving 298 people dead, 38 of them Australians.

Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24 in a land, sea and air offensive, which has been met with fierce resistance by the Ukrainian forces and people and has led more than 6.5 million Ukrainians to be internally displaced and 3.5 million to flee the country.

Moscow alleges that it is attacking Ukraine due to the threat posed by its intention to join NATO and to “denazify” it, while Kyiv accuses the Russian authorities of wanting to control the country and prevent closer ties with Europe and the West. EFE

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