Antonov: Moscow itself will determine the level of participation at the APEC summit in the USA

Russia will independently determine the level of its participation in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco. About it stated Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov.

“The decision on the composition of the delegation and the level of representation is the prerogative of Russia. We ourselves will determine who will travel from us to San Francisco, based on practical expediency, as soon as we receive an invitation,” he said, commenting on statements by the US State Department that Washington will be guided by sanctions lists when sending out invitations.

Antonov also noted that the United States, as the receiving party, was assigned a technical function – “to draw up a document and send it to all participants in the association.” According to the ambassador, Moscow considers Washington’s attempt to explain the sending of invitations by unilateral sanctions as a “violation of international obligations.”

October 2, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller reportedthat the US expects Russian President Vladimir Putin will not participate in the APEC summit in San Francisco.

Earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported that the United States accepted the decision not to extend invitations to the APEC summit to several leaders, including Putin. They explained that this decision was made in connection with the effect of sanctions restrictions.

The APEC summit will be held this year from November 11 to 17 in San Francisco. The forum includes 19 countries and two territories, including Russia, China, USA, Japan, Canada, etc.