Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo welcomes Russia's resumption of its deal, freeing up grain exports from Ukraine, during a telephone conversation with President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday.

"Had a phone conversation with President Putin and discussed the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Welcome Russia's decision to rejoin the initiative," President Jokowi said in a tweet posted from his handle @jokowi on Wednesday evening.

The decision made by Russia was announced shortly after President Jokowi held the telephone conversation, which he said commenced at 4 p.m. on Wednesday.

In an interview with The Jakarta Post earlier in the day, President Jokowi said he would have a wide range of topics to be discussed with Putin, including the resumption of the grain deal as well as the participation of the Russian leader in the G20 Summit in Bali on Nov. 15.

President Jokowi said that so far, 17 world leaders have confirmed their attendance at the summit. Recent media reports said that United States President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping have agreed to join the summit.

On Wednesday, the Kremlin confirmed that Putin engaged in a phone call with President Jokowi, discussing the upcoming G20 Summit. The statement did not mention whether Putin planned to attend the summit, which is set to take place this month in Bali.

Earlier on Tuesday, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Russia should be expelled from the G20 and Putin's invitation to the G20 Summit in Bali next month be revoked.

"Putin publicly acknowledged ordering missile strikes on Ukrainian civilians and energy infrastructure," spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko wrote on Twitter.

"With his hands stained in blood, he must not be allowed to sit at the table with world leaders. Putin's invitation to the Bali summit must be revoked and Russia expelled from the G20," he added.

Source: https://asianews.network/jokowi-hails-russias-resumption-of-grain-deal-in-call-with-putin