Albanese may have to choose between Putin photo and Ukraine stance

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 1 Nov, 05:50 · Archive

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese may face pressure to appear in a group photograph with Vladimir Putin at a G20 summit in Miami next month.

Anthony Albanese may face a diplomatic dilemma at the G20 Leaders' Summit in Miami next month, as the Trump administration has invited Vladimir Putin to attend. Western governments, including Australia, expect Putin to accept the invitation after his foreign minister Sergei Lavrov attended a preparatory event this weekend.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong refused to participate in a group photograph with Lavrov at that event, and several other attendees did the same, prompting US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to cancel the photo opportunity. However, refusing to participate in a photograph arranged by President Trump at the main G20 summit could carry steeper diplomatic consequences for Albanese.

Cabinet minister Murray Watt, described as Albanese's 'fixer on Capital Hill', declined to predict the Prime Minister's decision but said Australia's position is 'that we don't want to normalise Russia's illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine'. He suggested that 'being out of a photograph' could advance that stance. Opposition assistant treasury spokesman Kevin Hogan left the decision to Albanese's discretion but indicated his support for declining to appear with Putin, stating that 'what Russia is doing is not okay' and that this should be 'expressed in whatever way the Prime Minister thinks he should at that meeting'.

How it is being reported

• Albanese could face photo with Vladimir Putin at G20 summitThe Prime Minister may be forced to spoil Donald Trump’s photo-op plans at a major summit in the US.Perth Now · 1 Nov, 05:26
• Albanese could face photo with Vladimir Putin at G20 summitThe Prime Minister may be forced to spoil Donald Trump’s photo-op plans at a major summit in the US.The West Australian · 1 Nov, 05:26

In this story: Anthony Albanese · Vladimir Putin · Penny Wong · Sergei Lavrov · Donald Trump · Marco Rubio · Murray Watt · Kevin Hogan

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