President Biden Says Russia Should Be Expelled: If Indonesia And Others Disagree, Ukraine Should Be Allowed To Attend

President Joko Widodo with President Joe Biden. (Antara/Laily Rachev/Press Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat)

JAKARTA - US President Joe Biden said he thought Russia should be excluded from the Group of Twenty (G20) main economic organization, a topic raised during his meeting with world leaders in Brussels on Thursday morning.

"My answer is yes, depending on the G20," Biden said, when asked whether Russia should be excluded from the group.

President Biden also said that if countries like Indonesia and others do not agree with the removal of Russia, then in his view, Ukraine should be allowed to attend the meeting.

Previously, Indonesia, which currently serves as the G20 Presidency, would still invite Russia to attend the G20 Summit which will be held at the end of October, amid heavy criticism over the invasion of Ukraine.

The Special Staff for Strengthening Priority Programs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as the G20 Co-Sherpa, Dian Triansyah Djani, said that Indonesia would still invite Russia.

"As a presidency and in accordance with the previous presidency, Indonesia invites all members," she said in a virtual press statement Thursday, March 24.

She explained that Indonesia has on various occasions led international organizations and forums in the world, always adhering to the applicable rules and procedures.

"One of the duties of the presidency is to consult with all members. The Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, the Minister of Finance, and others hold consultations with all parties on a bilateral basis," she explained.

"Our position is clear, we will carry out our duties. We will not comment on other people's comments," she said.

As previously reported, the United States and its Western allies are assessing whether Russia should remain in the Group of Twenty major economies after the invasion of Ukraine, sources involved in the discussions told.

However, any move to exclude Russia may be vetoed by other countries in the group, raising the prospect of some countries skipping the G20 meeting, the sources said.

"There are discussions about whether it is appropriate for Russia to be part of the G20. If Russia remains a member, it will be a less useful organization," said a senior G7 source.

China, which does not condemn Russia's invasion and criticizes Western sanctions, defended Moscow on Wednesday, calling Russia an "important member" of the G20.

"No member has the right to dismiss another country as a member. The G20 must implement real multilateralism, strengthen unity and cooperation," they stressed at a press conference.

Separately, Russian Ambassador to Indonesia Lyudmila Vorobieva in her statement yesterday in Jakarta said Russian President Vladimir Putin is planning to attend the G20 Summit in Bali.

She appreciated the position of the Government of Indonesia as the G20 Presidency, amid requests not to invite Russia to attend.