Putin informs PM Modi of his inability to attend the G20 and states that FM will represent Russia. Slavslav Lavrov

Russian President Vladimir Putin notified Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday that he would not be able to attend the G20 Summit next month and that Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov would represent Russia instead, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.

The two leaders also discussed progress on a number of bilateral cooperation matters over the phone and shared opinions on regional and global subjects of interest, including the recently finished BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, according to a statement released by the PMO.

President Putin expressed his unwillingness to attend the September 9–10 G20 Summit in New Delhi. PM Modi thanked President Putin for Russia’s continued support of all measures during India’s G20 Presidency while expressing sympathy for Russia’s choice, according to the PMO.

The statement said that the two leaders decided to keep in contact.