Putin Says He May Not Attend U.N. Climate Conference Because Of Coronavirus Risks

Putin Says He May Not Attend U.N. Climate Conference Because Of Coronavirus Risks

Share to Linkedin Russian President Vladimir Putin has not yet decided whether he will attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference later this month in Glasgow, Scotland, because of concerns about the Covid-19 situation, he said during a panel in Moscow on Wednesday. Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a session of the Russian Energy Week International Forum in ... [+] Moscow on Oc. 13, 2021. (Photo by Sergei GUNEYEV / SPUTNIK / AFP) In an interview with CNBC journalist Hadley Gamble as part of Russian Energy Week, Putin said he will "definitely participate in the work" of the conference, called COP26 for short, even if he does not take part personally, according to a live translation. He also took the opportunity to tout Russia's controversial Sputnik V vaccine, saying that he almost got Covid-19 when he was "in close contact" with colleagues who had the disease, but that he didn't contract it thanks to Sputnik V. 984. That's the amount of daily Covid-19 deaths reported in Russia as of Wednesday — a record high. It comes as the nation is grappling with low vaccination numbers and soaring infection rates. Putin, regarded as a "wild card" given the Russian economy's reliance