The Indonesian leader is in St Petersburg at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin instead of attending the G7 summit in Canada.

Yury Ushakov called Thursday a key date on the Russian president’s schedule, "when an official visit by the president of Indonesia will take place"

The deepening of ties between Russia and Indonesia is part of Moscow’s bid to forge new relations with the Global South.

The Indonesian leader is in St Petersburg at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin instead of attending the G7 summit in Canada.