Vladimir Putin never planned to attend Queen Elizabeth II's funeral, the Kremlin said on Wednesday in response to reports that the Russian president wasn't even invited to the upcoming historic service over his invasion of Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in a call that Putin "has sent a telegram of condolences" to the royal family over the Queen's death last week, according to CNN.
"From the very beginning, the president had no other plans to participate in memorial or other events," Peskov said, the news outlet reported.
Peskov's comments came after reports emerged this week that representatives from Russia, Belarus, and Myanmar would not be invited to the Queen's funeral.
A senior British government source told CNN this week that Russia and its close ally Belarus would not be welcome at the funeral at London's Westminster Abbey over Putin's unprovoked, nearly seven-month war with Ukraine.
Hundreds of foreign dignitaries and world leaders, including US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron, are expected to attend the late monarch's state funeral on Monday.
The Queen, who died on September 8 at the age of 96, will lie in state in Westminster Hall for four days ahead of the funeral to allow for the public to pay their respects.
Since Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine in February, the UK has sanctioned more than 1,000 people and over 100 businesses in Russia.
