US rejects 'business as usual' with Putin after G20 invitation
The United States said Friday that the world cannot deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin as before after Indonesia invited him -- as well as Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky -- to November's Group of 20 summit.
President Joe Biden "has expressed publicly his opposition to President Putin attending the G20. We have welcomed the Ukrainians attending," White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters.
"We have conveyed our view that we don't think they should be a part of it publicly and privately," she said.
She indicated that the United States was in touch with the Indonesians and that the invitation to Russia came before its invasion of Ukraine.
Russia, unlike Ukraine, is a member of the Group of 20 which is made up of the world's largest economies.
"Indonesia wants to unify the G20, let there be no division. Peace and stability are the key to the recovery and development of the world's economy."
Psaki, who was asked during a press briefing if the United States would welcome Russia's presence at the G20, responded that "there's a lot that could happen between now and then."
"But we certainly haven't seen an indication to date of Russia's plan to participate in diplomatic talks constructively," Psaki said.
"Our hope certainly is that will change because, obviously, diplomatic talks and conversations are the way to bring an end to this conflict, and President Putin could end this tomorrow, could end this right now."
