US says to be 'good hosts' to Russia at APEC summit

INA-source
With a visit by President Vladimir Putin politically unthinkable, Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk will represent Russia at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.
 
"He's being treated as the head of delegation, and he'll have the opportunity to participate fully in the week's events," Matt Murray, the State Department official in charge of APEC, told AFP.
 
Overchuk is under a variety of Western sanctions including from the European Union but not specifically under US sanctions, unlike much of Russia's top brass.
 
"We've been consistently saying all year long that we wanted to be good hosts of APEC," Murray said.
 
"But we were going to do so within the laws and regulations of the United States. And Russia's participation, obviously, has been shaped by that, because of the sanctions," he said.
 
He acknowledged that Overchuk "clearly won't be on the same level" in diplomatic protocol as heads of state and government who are coming to APEC.
 
The leaders include another frequent US adversary, Chinese President Xi Jinping, who will meet Wednesday with US President Joe Biden.
Source- rfi.