At the top of Bali’s major industrialized and emerging countries, the issues of the war in Ukraine and inflation are at the top of the agenda. Both the president of the G20 host country Indonesia, Joko Widodo, and the Chinese head of state and party leader Xi Jinping called for unity on Tuesday. The draft final statement, circulated before the meeting began, contains surprisingly sharp criticism of Russia – and the statement also mentions the “war” in Ukraine. Actually a matter of course, which should nevertheless mean a clear departure from Russia’s last allies.
According to the draft, which the AFP news agency was able to see, most G20 members “strongly condemned” the war in Ukraine. The war “causes untold human suffering and exacerbates existing vulnerabilities in the global economy,” said the text, which has yet to be endorsed by leaders. In addition, a “complete and unconditional withdrawal from the territory of Ukraine” is demanded. The use or threat of using nuclear weapons is described as “prohibited”. The document also includes a requirement to renew the agreement on grain exports from Ukraine. The agreement expires on Saturday.
“Different opinions”
The summit’s final statement will be released at the end of the meeting on Wednesday. The draft notes that there were “different opinions” and that the G20 summit is not a forum “to resolve security issues”. However, these could have “significant implications for the global economy”. According to EU diplomats, due to Russian resistance, it is still uncertain whether the text of the statement can be adopted in this form. Moscow has so far refused to describe the invasion of Ukraine as a war, calling it a “special military operation”.
Xi: “What’s wrong with the world?”
The pandemic continues, the global economy is becoming more fragile, the food and energy crisis reinforce each other, Xi said. “All this represents a major challenge for our development.” All countries should answer the question: “What is wrong in the world, what should we do about it?” Build or create closed or exclusive circles”, he also opposed the formation of blocks.
Putin can be represented
If the war doesn’t end, it will be difficult for the world to move forward, Widodo said, without directly mentioning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “The G20 must be the catalyst for a full recovery.” Indonesia had previously refused to sack Russian President Vladimir Putin, despite insistence from several states, and refused to condemn Russia’s actions. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will represent Putin at the summit. On Monday, he rejected a report that he had been taken to hospital in Bali with a heart condition.
China moved significantly away from Russia this weekend
Developments in recent days indicate that Moscow can no longer count on the full support of its powerful partner China when it comes to Ukraine in the G20. As recently as Friday, diplomats reported that China was firmly on Russia’s side in preparatory talks for the summit, making it difficult to agree on a joint statement. If true, China’s support appears to be waning on this issue.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
