Putin has not yet confirmed whether he will attend the December summit hosted by the United States. His last in-person appearance at a G20 meeting was in 2019 – three years before Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Kallas’ remarks come amid growing frustration among EU countries over Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s participation in a G20 ministerial meeting in Atlanta.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who hosted the meeting, canceled the traditional family photo after European officials refused to stand with Lavrov.
Kallas said in the interview that “we do not want to stand with him (Lavrov) in this forum” because he is subject to international sanctions.
However, she added that Lavrov’s presence meant “we can also immediately retaliate against these lies” from Russia.
Kallas on Friday hailed the US decision to sell 500 Patriot missile interceptors to Ukraine as a “very positive development” and called on allies to step up sanctions against Russia.
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