Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov apparently does not want a second longer than necessary at the G20 meeting on the Indonesian island of Bali. According to his spokeswoman, the Russian will hold bilateral talks and will make a press statement after his speech. Then he flies home. The 72-year-old skips the official dinner and afternoon session with his fellow foreign ministers from the 20 leading and emerging economic powers.
Lavrov left the conference room immediately after his speech, sources in the delegation said. He also evaded the reply from German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, it was said. Baerbock, acting chairman of the G7 group of leading democratic economic powers, would be the next speaker after Lavrov. The Russian was in the room between representatives from Saudi Arabia and Mexico.
“When are you going to end the war?”
The reception of the Russian by Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi was already very reserved. On the sidelines, Lavrov was bombarded with awkward questions from journalists. For example, ZDF correspondent Andreas Kynast asked, “When will you end the war?” Kynast said he was then taken from the reception hall by Indonesian security officials. There were initially no further restrictions for him. A second German journalist shouted to Lavrov: ‘Why don’t you end the war?’
Indonesia wants to mediate between Russia and Ukraine
At the beginning of the meeting, hostess Marsudi urgently called for an end to the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine. “It is our responsibility to end the war as soon as possible and build bridges instead of walls,” said Indonesia’s foreign minister. Indonesia, which currently holds the G20 presidency, offered to mediate between the conflicting parties after President Joko Widodo made a trip to Moscow and Kiev in late June.
All eyes are now on whether there will be dialogue or further escalation at the Bali meeting. Lavrov’s presence is also seen as a test of Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin’s possible participation in the G20 summit scheduled for mid-November, which will also take place in Bali. Several states have questioned their presence if he appeared in person.
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.
