New Delhi/IBNS: Russian President Vladimir Putin has informed Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he will be unable to attend the G20 Summit to be hosted by Delhi next weekend.

Putin will send foreign minister Sergey Lavrov in his place, a statement from the Prime Minister's Office said.

The PMO also said the leaders, who interacted during last week's BRICS Summit in South Africa also spoke about bilateral, regional, and global issues.

During the brief call, PM Modi expressed an understanding of Putin's decision and conveyed India's gratitude for Russia's support as it holds the presidency of the G20 for this year.

The two leaders agreed to remain in touch, the Prime Minister's Office said.

Speculation in the media suggests that Putin will not travel since the G20 Summit broke last week after the Kremlin's statement on the Russian leader, who faces global criticism for leading his country into the war with Ukraine.

According to reports, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin accusing him of war crimes in Ukraine.

The Kremlin has strongly denied the reports.

However, if true,  ICC's warrant means Putin risks arrest when travelling abroad and that might be also a reason why he did not travel to South Africa (for the BRICS Summit) either, preferring instead to address the meeting via a video link.