Scholz Supports Keeping G20 even if It Includes Russia

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has expressed his support for keeping the G20 even though it includes Russia.

In an interview with German TV Channel Two, Scholz said today, Monday that the G20 must continue to play its role and support Ukraine.

"There is a common conviction that we do not want to undermine the G20," he added.

The next summit of the G20 leaders is expected to be held in Indonesia in November.

Scholz did not give a clear answer to a question about whether he would sit with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the same table.

The Chancellor mentioned that the host country, Indonesia has also invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to attend the summit, and the G20 leaders will have eventually to make a decision shortly before travel because world events can change very dramatically by this date.

In the same vein, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had expressed her opposition to a boycott of the G20 summit, even if Putin participated in it.

"We have to consider very carefully whether we paralyze the entire G20; I don’t advocate that. In my opinion, G20 is too important, also for the developing countries, the emerging countries, that we should let this body be broken by Putin," Ursula said in statements to German TV Channel Two.

She added that the G20 is very important from her point of view even for developing and emerging countries, and therefore the summit leaders should not allow this group to be disrupted because of the Russian president.