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Putin not to attend COP26 climate summit: Kremlin
Updated 20:41, 20-Oct-2021
CGTN

Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend next month's landmark UN climate summit, the Kremlin said on Wednesday but stressed that addressing climate change was one of Russia's top policy priorities. 

"Unfortunately, Putin will not fly to Glasgow," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, adding, however, that climate change was "one of our foreign policy's most important priorities."

"We need to work out in what format it will be possible to speak via video conference, at what moment," Peskov added. 

Britain, which hosts the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties, or COP26, in Glasgow from October 31 to November 12, is seeking to get support from major powers for a more radical plan to tackle climate change. 

The Kremlin on Tuesday said Putin would not attend the G20 summit in Rome in person this month due to concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic, but would participate via video link, one of at least four leaders set to not be present at the event.  

Putin briefly self-isolated last month after dozens of people in his entourage were diagnosed with the virus. Last week, after coughing repeatedly at a government meeting, Putin said he had caught a cold. 

Ahead of the Kremlin's announcement, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told investors on Tuesday that there would be good attendance at COP26. 

"We've got a very good attendance and, in spite of the pandemic, it looks like a lot of people are going to be able to come in person," Johnson said. 

(Cover: Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with members of the Russian Government and heads of the United Russia party via video conference at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, Russia, September 14, 2021. /CFP)

Source(s): AFP ,Reuters

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