All news

G20 leaders arrive in Peterhof for late dinner to discuss Syrian crisis

“I suggest we do this during the dinner,” Putin said

PETERHOF, Leningrad Region, September 5 (Itar-Tass) - The leaders of the Group of Twenty (G20) countries and heads of leading international organisations have arrived in Peterhof outside St. Petersburg for a late dinner where they intend to discuss, among other things, the crisis in Syria.

The leaders travelled by two buses, except for U.S. President Barack Obama and Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff who had stayed back at the Konstantin Palace in Strelna, the main venue of the G20 summit, for bilateral talks. Rousseff arrived in Peterhof with a 20 minutes delay, with Obama following her ten minutes later.

The summiteers walked along the Grand Palace in Peterhof, with President Vladimir Putin leading the way and conversing lively with Argentine President Cristina Fernandez. British Prime Minister David Cameron was bringing up the rear.

Putin had earlier suggested considering the Syrian issue during the dinner after many of his foreign colleagues had asked him for time and opportunity to discuss pressing international issues that had not been initially included in the summit agenda.

“I suggest we do this during the dinner,” Putin said.

The dinner will be followed by a water and musical show with the Great Cascade of Fountains serving as stage.