President Biden Wants Russia Removed, Kremlin: G20 Is Important But Nothing Bad Will Happen

Juru bicara Kremlin Dimitry Peskov. (Wikimedia Commons/Kremlin.ru/Press Service of the President of Russia)

JAKARTA - The Kremlin said on Friday that nothing bad will happen if the United States and its allies succeed in expelling Russia from the Group of Twenty (G20) major economies, as many G20 members remain at economic war with Moscow.

That was said by a Kremlin spokesman when commenting on US President Joe Biden's remarks that he preferred to expel Russia after the invasion of Ukraine.

"The format of the G20 is important, but in the current situation, when most of the participants are in a state of economic war with us, nothing bad will happen", Peskov told reporters, responding to a question about the possible expulsion of Russia, reported Reuters March 25.

Peskov further said that the world is far more diverse than the United States and Europe, predicting US efforts to isolate Moscow, which he says have so far been only partially effective, will fail.

He added that some countries are taking a more prudent approach to Russia and not burning bridges, over which Moscow will establish new policy directions in all areas.

G20 summit in Rome, Italy in 2021. (Wikimedia Commons/www.g20.org)

As previously reported, US President Joe Biden said he thought Russia should be excluded from the Group of Twenty's (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 if Russia should be excluded from the group.

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

The G20 is a group that needs to find answers to critical issues, such as the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin.

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

Meanwhile, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the G20 members had to decide but that issue was not a priority now.

"When it comes to the question of how to proceed with the WTO (World Trade Organization) and the G20, it is very important to discuss this question with the countries involved and not decide individually", Scholz said.

For information, Indonesia, which currently serves as the G20 Presidency, will continue to invite Russia to attend the G20 Summit which will be held at the end of October, amid heavy criticism of 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 by the previous presidency, Indonesia invites all members", he said in a virtual press statement