The upcoming G20 summit scheduled for September 9 and 10 in Delhi has attracted significant attention due to the uncertainty surrounding the participation of Russian President Vladimir Putin. India, as the current holder of the G20 presidency, is gearing up to host the event. The speculation about Putin’s attendance was put to rest following an official announcement detailing a phone conversation between President Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 28.

During the call, Putin regretfully informed Modi that he won’t be able to personally attend the G20 summit in Delhi due to unavoidable reasons. Instead, he revealed that Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov would represent Russia at the summit on his behalf. This marks the second important international meeting that Putin will miss, with a similar situation occurring earlier at the BRICS meeting in Johannesburg. On that occasion, Russia was represented at the ministerial level while other member countries sent their presidents.

Putin’s absence has triggered speculations and discussions about its underlying reasons. One notable event that has drawn attention is the issuance of arrest warrants by the International Criminal Court on March 17, 2023, targeting individuals connected to the situation in Ukraine, including Vladimir Putin. This development has fueled conjecture about the potential connection between Putin’s absence and the warrants.

With this being the second prominent meeting that Putin will not be attending, the speculation continues to grow. As the G20 summit approaches, all eyes will be on Delhi as world leaders convene to address critical global issues and foster international cooperation.