at the G20, Russia signed a statement challenging it

INTERNATIONAL – All the G20 countries condemn the Russian attack against Ukraine… or almost. At the end of the group summit in bali this Wednesday, November 16, the “ mostly ” members, “ strongly condemned the war in Ukraine”, reports the final press release. With the exception of the Russiawho nevertheless signed the joint declaration.

This strange situation has an explanation. The document indeed recalls that the members of the G20 (except Russia, therefore) condemn all Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine and “underline that it causes intense human suffering and exacerbates existing fragilities in the global economy”.

But further, the communiqué acknowledges that there is “different views and assessments on the situation and on the sanctions”. This mention convinced Sergei Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs present in Bali in place of the President Vladimir Poutineto sign the joint declaration.

Sergei Lavrov’s conditions

Because the day before, Sergei Lavrov had denounced the Western countries which wanted “to politicize” the document. These latter “insist” to write a line indicating that all the participating countries condemned the war in Ukraine, he regretted in a press conference.

“Let’s do it in a fair way and let’s be clear that on this subject, we have differences”he said, before finally winning his case. “Yes, there is a war in Ukraine, a hybrid war that the West has waged and prepared for years”he had criticized again.

Moreover, in the joint statement, the members of the group, including Russia, stress that “ the use or threat to use nuclear weapons is inadmissible”.

Diplomatic efforts at the top

Indonesia, host of the G20 leaders’ summit, hoped in early 2022 to be able to focus its presidency on cooperative efforts to revive the global economy after the covid pandemic.

But the war started in February by Russia in Ukraine upset this program by causing multiple crises, in particular food and energy, and widening the divisions between countries.

After a series of ministerial preparatory meetings for the G20 which had failed to reach common positions, because of deep divisions between Westerners, Russia and countries of the South on the war in Ukraine, Indonesia, host country of the summit of the leaders of the G20 stepped up diplomatic efforts to secure a summit agreement.

“Today we succeeded in adopting and ratifying the G20 Leaders’ Statement”welcomed Indonesian President Joko Widodo, stressing that this was the first agreement on a joint text since February within the group. “I express my thanks to all those who participated and who showed flexibility” to get this common text.

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