“The G20 was established in 1999 at the level of finance ministers and central bank directors. And then in 2008 it became the “G-20 Summit”. Back then, nobody was interested in anything but finance and the macroeconomic policies for which the G20 was created.”
This was stated by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at the G-20 meeting in New Delhi, India.
“Now there is nothing but Ukraine that is of interest to the G20. This is a shame,” said the Russian first diplomat.
“Our Western friends shouted into the microphones: ‘Russia must…!’ Russia must…! Russia must…!” Lavrov pointed out.
He said US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Western leaders had insisted that “Russia must suffer a strategic defeat”.
“This, they say, is existential for the West in the context of global dominance,” Lavrov announced.
Lavrov: You are shamelessly burying the grain deal
“>Lavrov: You are shamelessly burying the grain deal
Earlier, the US secretary of state met briefly in New Delhi with Lavrov and pressed him on the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The EU’s high commissioner for foreign policy, Josep Borrell, said he had seen “a little improvement”.
He noted that Lavrov remained in the room when Western countries criticized Russia, unlike the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in Bali last year, when the Russian foreign minister left.
“At least this time he stayed and listened. It’s a small improvement, but it’s important,” Borrell said, adding, “I think it’s better than nothing.”
Lavrov revealed the plans of Russia and China
“>Lavrov revealed the plans of Russia and China
Borrell said he would oppose any effort to expel Russia from the G20.
“We have to preserve the possibilities for conversations or at least for listening,” Borrell explained.
He defended encouraging developing countries to oppose the war in Ukraine, while adding that he was aware of the consequences, such as higher food prices.
“I understand people from the so-called ‘global south’ who say: ‘look, we can’t bear the consequences of this war,'” Borrell stressed. “But look who is to blame for this. Who created the problem?”
Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Jolie said she met with Lavrov on Thursday and told him: “Russia needs to get out of Ukraine — period.”
In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning commented that during the G-20 meeting, it became clear that “the forum is not for solving security issues.”
The members of the G20 “have different views on the issue of Ukraine”, explained Ning.
