The President of the European Commission is in favour of Western participation in the next G20 summit in November in Indonesia, despite the possible presence of the Russian president and the war in Ukraine.
"I think it is better to tell him (Vladimir Putin) face to face, if he comes, what we think and to take a stand", said Ursula von der Leyen, speaking yesterday, Sunday evening, on German television station ZDF.
Asked about the idea of a boycott of the G20 by Western countries, von der Leyen was speaking on the sidelines of the G7 meeting being held in Germany.
"The G20 is too important for developing countries, emerging countries, to let Putin destroy it," the Commission president added.
"One thing is very clear, it will not be business as usual, i.e. normalcy" in the relationship with Putin, von der Leyen stressed.
Indonesia, which chairs the G20, is to hold this summit in November in Bali.
The country has come under strong pressure from the West, led by the US, to exclude Russia because of its invasion of Ukraine.
[BR][BR]But Jakarta resisted, arguing that its position as host obliged it to remain "impartial", according to its president, Joko Widodo, who also invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
If the Western heads of state go to Bali, it will be their first face-to-face meeting with the Russian president since Moscow invaded Ukraine.
"We ought to discuss together (with EU member states)" on the issue, von der Leyen said, however.
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs Cyprus Times
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or Cyprus Times
Source
