Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend the United Nations General Assembly session in New York, according to remarks from the presidency’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov. He cited the current practicality of travel and noted that the United States is not the most suitable destination for the Russian leader to visit at this time. The update was reported by RIA Novosti.
“Putin has not been traveling abroad much in recent years. The United States, serving as the host country for the UN, also does not fully meet its international obligations at present. Given these realities, this may not be the optimal direction for leadership travel right now,” Peskov explained.
There has been a long-standing restriction on Russian diplomats speaking or moving freely outside the 40-kilometer zone around the UN headquarters in New York. The policy, in force for many years, previously allowed limited exceptions with advance notification to U.S. authorities. At present, such travel outside the zone is generally limited to advisors and senior diplomats.
Peskov also discussed the potential for a meeting between Putin and senior BRICS representatives, noting that discussions about such a get-together were ongoing and could be influenced by scheduling and diplomatic considerations.