Biden Faces G-20 Quandary Between Joining Putin or Staying Home

US has sought to isolate Russia internationally over Ukraine
Jokowi says Putin and Xi intend to come to Bali summit

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By Courtney McBride

August 19, 2022 at 6:47 PM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

President Joe Biden is facing a difficult choice after Indonesia’s announcement that Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping will attend this year’s Group of 20 summit: join an event with two leaders he has sought to isolate, or skip the gathering and forgo a chance to shape its outcome.

As he prepares for the November gathering, Biden must confront the fact that nations like Indonesia are refusing to pick sides over the Ukraine invasion despite his demand that they do so, and have faulted the US as much as China over increased tension between Washington and Beijing.