Rishi Sunak calls Russia a ‘rogue state’: PM blasts Vladimir Putin for not attending G20 summit in Bali to explain Ukraine invasion, calls president ‘responsible for so much bloodshed’

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called Russia a “rogue state” as he attacked President Vladimir Putin for not attending the G20 summit in Bali.

Sunak believes that the president’s non-appearance at today’s summit means that the Kremlin leader is making no effort to explain his actions, even though he is “responsible for so much bloodshed in Ukraine”.

Instead, Moscow’s foreign minister and Putin’s attack dog Sergei Lavrov will attend the G20 summit. He is expected to be beaten by the leaders during today’s session.

It is the first meeting between a British prime minister and a Russian official since Putin launched his invasion in February.

The Prime Minister is expected to follow in the footsteps of his predecessors Liz Truss and Boris Johnson and confront the nation against their “illegal invasion”.

Mr Sunak, speaking to journalists on the plane to Bali, will outline a five-point economic plan at the summit, hoping to reduce dependence on oil and gas from Russia.

Mr Sunak wrote for the Telegraph: “We will not allow the actions of a rogue state to hold our economic future hostage – nor our allies.”

Referring to Putin, he added: “Leaders take responsibility. you appear However, one seat remains vacant at this week’s G20 summit in Indonesia.

“The man responsible for so much bloodshed in Ukraine and economic turmoil around the world will not face his peers. He won’t even try to explain his actions. Instead, he stays at home and the rest of us get on with the task at hand.”

He will meet President Joe Biden for the first time as Western allies confront Russia over its invasion.

The two world leaders will try to persuade member states less supportive of Ukraine to rally behind them, hoping to put more pressure on Putin to back down.

Last night, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman told the Daily Mail: “We will use every opportunity to confront Russia with its continued illegal actions, its inhumane bombing of innocent civilians and civilian infrastructure to starve the Ukrainian people and, of course, the significant domino effect it hits vulnerable countries around the world.”

Mr Sunak believes Putin’s (pictured) failure to appear at the G20 summit means the Kremlin leader is making no attempt to justify his actions despite being “responsible for so much bloodshed in Ukraine”.

Last week, Putin and his troops were humiliated after being forced to withdraw from Kherson – the only regional capital that Kremlin forces have been able to capture since Putin’s invasion began in February.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will attend the summit via video link. Sunak said he had made it clear to Kyiv’s leaders that Britain “will never back down, despite brutality, when it comes to supporting the Ukrainian people”.

The G20 countries are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The prime minister will meet President Joe Biden for the first time as Western allies confront Russia over its invasion

Last week the Prime Minister was in Egypt for Cop27 after reversing his initial decision not to attend. Pictured: Mr Sunak meets Swedish counterpart Ulf Kristersson at the Cop27 summit in Sharm el-Sheikh

It will be an opportunity for mr. Sunak to show himself as a leader who until now has little knowledge of his positions on many geopolitical issues.

Part of Mr Sunak’s economic action plan is to “direct government support to where it is most needed.” He also hopes to “end the weaponization of food production and distribution.”

This will hopefully lead to the restart of the grain business suspended by Putin, which prevents exports from Ukraine.

The third is to strengthen energy security and reduce dependence on Russia. Finally, Mr. Sunak to “open up global trade” and “provide fair, reliable financing to help developing countries grow sustainably”.

Last week the Prime Minister was in Egypt for Cop27 after reversing his initial decision not to attend.