Bisnis.Com, Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Pandjaitan spoke in response to reports of Russian President Vladimir Putin who will not attend the Bali G20 Summit on November 15- November 16.

Pandjaitan stated that he had obtained official information from the Russian government regarding Putin's absence at the peak event of the G20 Presidency of Indonesia or the G20 Bali Summit, Bisnis.com reported.

"No, Putin will not be present. He has conveyed that his Foreign Affairs Minister will represent him," said Luhut in the Nusa Dua area, Bali on Thursday. The Indonesian government, he said, respects the decision of the Russian government, "We respect that (Putin's decision)," said Luhut.

President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo had previously asked Putin to be present at the G20 Bali Summit.

"We hoped that because of good communication it will be able to reduce tensions between Ukraine and Russia," said Luhut.

Bloomberg previously reported that Vladimir Putin won't attend the Group of 20 summit next week, according to people familiar with the planning, as the Kremlin seeks to protect the president from potential high-level tensions over his invasion of Ukraine.

Putin's decision avoids potential confrontations with other world leaders, including US president Joe Biden who has labeled the Russian president a "war criminal."

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/1655242/minister-luhut-comments-on-putins-absence-in-the-bali-g20-summit