Shortly before the start of the meeting of G20 foreign ministers in India, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in the capital New Delhi. Jaishankar said on Twitter on Wednesday that there was talk of cooperation between the two countries and also G20 affairs. India holds the presidency of the G20 this year. The war in Ukraine is likely to play a central role at the meeting of foreign ministers.
During his visit, Lavrov praised the potential for bilateral relations between Russia and India. India is a friend of Russia, he said on Wednesday during a visit to a book fair in the capital New Delhi. The Russian foreign minister also stressed that Russia – like India – does not accept neo-colonial practices of unilateral sanctions, threats and blackmail and other forms of pressure. Russia repeatedly accuses the US and the “collective West” of behaving like a colonial power in the world. “We are united by a firm commitment to building a fairer and more democratic world, a world order with several central points,” Lavrov said.
Borrell: “This war must be condemned”
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell demanded on Wednesday that G20 foreign ministers condemn Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. “I am sure that the ability of Indian diplomacy will be used to make it clear to Russia that this war must end,” Borrell said, adding, “This war must be condemned.” emerging countries if the war is condemned.
Baerbock demands: “Confront Russia’s cynical game”
Ahead of the meeting of G20 foreign ministers, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called for a clear signal against Russia’s aggressive war in Ukraine. The group must put all its energy into the major global challenges, said the Green politician on Wednesday before her flight to the meeting in the Indian capital New Delhi. “This also means that we oppose Russia’s cynical game, which is trying to drive a wedge in the world community.”
India does not support Western sanctions
A meal was initially planned for the G20 meeting on Wednesday evening (local time). The work sessions are scheduled for Thursday. India is neutral to Russia’s offensive war against Ukraine, does not support Western sanctions and repeatedly advocates conflict resolution through dialogue. The second most populous country in the world has good relations with Western countries and also with Russia, on which it depends for a large part of its military equipment. During the war, India began to buy more relatively cheap oil from Russia. Western countries value the world’s largest democracy, India, as a value partner to Russia and China.
In addition to the Russian foreign minister, the American department head Antony Blinken and the Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang are also expected. The Russian embassy in New Delhi said at the meeting that it wanted to “speak firmly and frankly about the causes and instigators of the current serious problems in world politics and the world economy”. “The destructive policies of the US and its allies have already brought the world to the brink of disaster.”
The G20 includes the European Union and the strongest economies of each continent: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, Germany, France, Great Britain, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Canada, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey and the US. The group generates more than 80 percent of the global gross domestic product and represents about 60 percent of the world’s population.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
