– Unusual: there must be a joint final declaration at the G20 summit. Regardless of Russia’s membership, the draft contains a clear condemnation of the war in Ukraine.
Shortly before the start of the G20 summit in Indonesia, the European Union’s chief negotiator and 19 leading economic powers agreed on a draft joint final declaration.
This was confirmed by EU Council President Charles Michel at a press conference on Tuesday morning. According to information from the Press Agency of Germany, the European Union and western countries, despite Moscow’s initial resistance, it succeeded in having Russia’s war against Ukraine strongly condemned in the text.
The majority condemned the war against Ukraine
The night before, diplomats said that Russia was ready to accept such a share. According to a Western diplomat, the Russian offensive should be clearly described as war – and not as a special military operation, as Kremlin head Vladimir Putin has said.
A senior US official said on Tuesday that was a strong condemnation of most members of the G20 group. The focus is on forming the widest possible coalition within the G20. It worked.
The US official said: “I think most G20 members will make it clear that they condemn Russia’s war against Ukraine and that they see the war in Ukraine as the cause of enormous economic and humanitarian suffering in that country, look at the world.”
Can Russia still rely on China?
Russia’s approval of the draft text is seen as a sign that Moscow can no longer even count on the support of its powerful partner, China, when it comes to Ukraine in the G20 group.
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has indicated that Russia will make concessions on Monday. He had said in a video from his ministry that a final declaration would be accepted.
“This year we also had a war in Ukraine, which further affected the global economy,” said the G20 newspaper.
In addition, according to Monday night, Russia received the final declaration quoted from the UN resolutions on war. In this regard, the war was sharply condemned and Russia was asked to withdraw its troops.
Putin’s chief negotiator on the use of nuclear weapons
Putin’s chief negotiator is also said to have agreed that the use of nuclear weapons should be explained as unacceptable in the final declaration.
At the two-day G20 summit, apart from the EU, the countries of Germany, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, France, United Kingdom, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Canada, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey and represented in the United States. Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) is there for Germany.
The “Group of 20” together account for nearly two-thirds of the world’s population, three-quarters of world trade, and four-fifths of global economic power. Annual summits have been held since 2008. The G20 now deals with many other global issues apart from economic and financial matters.
