Putin May Be Absent But He Is Still on G-20 Leaders’ Minds
Russian president skips Bali summit amid tensions over his Ukraine invasion.
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Vladimir Putin may be absent from the Group of 20 summit but he’ll still be at the center of attention among world leaders wrestling with the consequences of the Russian president’s floundering war in Ukraine.
Putin opted to avoid potential confrontations with President Joe Biden and US allies at the summit starting Tuesday in Indonesia’s Bali. After repeated setbacks and climbdowns over Ukraine, the leader who has reveled in projecting a strong-man image may also have had to contend with even friendly leaders politely distancing themselves at the G-20.