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Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to participate in the virtual G20 leaders' summit scheduled for Wednesday, as revealed by Russia's Vesti TV show in a social media post on Sunday. This comes after Putin opted out of attending the in-person G20 meeting held in New Delhi in September, marking his second consecutive absence from the prestigious global gathering.
The decision to engage virtually contrasts with Putin's non-participation in the last two G20 summits, hosted by India and Indonesia. Instead, he delegated Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to represent Russia at those events. The Russian president's absence from the physical summits had prompted speculation and raised eyebrows, with questions lingering about the motivations behind the strategic move.
India, the host of the previous in-person summit in September, announced on Saturday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would preside over a virtual summit on Wednesday. The objective of this virtual gathering is to "take forward key, select outcomes/action points from the New Delhi summit," according to a statement from Indian officials.
Putin's decision to engage in the virtual format adds an intriguing dimension to the dynamics of global diplomacy, especially in the context of geopolitical tensions and shifting alliances. The G20 summit serves as a platform for world leaders to address pressing issues, and Putin's participation, albeit remotely, will be closely watched for any indications of policy shifts or diplomatic developments.
As the virtual G20 summit approaches, the international community awaits insights into the discussions that will unfold and the potential implications for global cooperation on economic, political, and environmental fronts.
