JAKARTA (REUTERS) - G-20 host Indonesia said on Thursday (April 14) that Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov has confirmed he planned to attend next week’s meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors from the Group of 20 major economies virtually.
Indonesian finance ministry official Wempi Saputra also told a briefing that Jakarta was considering whether to invite Ukraine to the meeting, which will be held on April 20 in Washington “to discuss the impact of the conflict in Ukraine on global economic conditions”.
“We don’t have the capacity to not invite (any member). As the president, Indonesia has invited all members and as of today, some have confirmed physical attendance and some virtual,” said Mr Wempi, noting this applied to all members, including Russia’s ministry of finance and central bank.
The issue of Russia’s G-20 membership has split the group, with strong calls from Western nations for the country to be excluded for sending tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine, but support for Moscow staying from members including China.
Last week, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said that Russia should be expelled from the G-20, and warned the United States will boycott some G-20 meetings if Russian officials show up.
Russian President Vladimir Putin sent his troops into Ukraine on Feb 24 for what he calls a “special military operation” to demilitarise and “denazify” the country. Ukraine and the West say Mr Putin launched an unprovoked war of aggression.
Moscow has said Mr Putin intends to attend the G-20 summit in Bali in November.
Indonesia, which will also host a G-20 finance meeting in July, has said Jakarta’s position was one of neutrality and it intended to use its G-20 leadership to try to resolve global economic problems.
