Lavrov will hold a series of bilateral meetings in the Italian capital this weekend (October 30/31), including with his Chinese colleague Wang Yi. The spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Sakharova, said on Thursday in Moscow.
Kremlin chief Putin had previously canceled a personal presence in view of the corona pandemic, but announced his participation via video. With a view to the high corona numbers, the 69-year-old had stated that there were large delegations on such summit trips and that the risk of infection for participants was high.
Also at the world climate summit COP26 in Glasgow from October 31 to November 12, Putin, who will conduct his official business from his Moscow suburban residence in Novo-Ogaryovo, only wants to take part online via a conference switch. Nevertheless, a Russian delegation of experts is traveling from Moscow to Scotland for the summit.