From the G20 meeting in India
Russia and Ukraine
G20 finance ministers fail to agree on a final statement on Ukraine
Russia accused Western countries, on Saturday, of “destabilizing” the G20 financial summit in India, by trying to work on adopting a joint statement on Ukraine through “blackmail”, which did not happen due to discrepancies.
“We regret that the activities of the G20 are still vulnerable to destabilization by the common West, and to be used in an anti-Russian way,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Moscow considered that the United States, the European Union and the Group of Seven countries “prevented the adoption of joint decisions” by trying to impose “dictates” through “clear blackmail,” so that the joint statement includes its interpretation of the conflict in Ukraine.
The State Department accused Washington and its allies of issuing “ultimatums” to “several delegations”.
She added, “We urgently call on the common West to reverse its destructive policy as soon as possible, and to take into account the objective realities of a multipolar world.”
And she added, “The G20 must remain an economic forum rather than encroaching on the security circle.”
This comes as finance ministers and central bank governors of the Group of Twenty concluded their meetings in India, on Saturday, without reaching a joint statement, due to differences with China over the war in Ukraine.
Russia’s delegation to the G20 summit
The finance ministers and governors, who have been meeting since Friday in the technological capital of India, Bangalore, sought to agree on solutions in the face of the challenges posed by the global economy, in the context of the war in Ukraine and high inflation.
On Saturday, India, which chairs the G20, published a “summary” of the discussions at the conclusion of the meetings, but without a joint statement.
The text indicated that “most of the members strongly condemned the war in Ukraine … with different assessments of the situation and the sanctions.”
An explanatory note stated that only China and Russia had not agreed on two clauses relating to Ukraine.
Indian official Jai Seth told reporters that representatives of Russia and China did not sign the summary on Ukraine, arguing that their role was to “discuss economic and financial issues”.
Several officials told AFP that China wanted to soften the language used about Ukraine in the joint declaration of the G20 finance ministers. One of them pointed out that “China does not want to denounce the war.”
Talks continued, seeking to agree on a formula for the statement, until 2 am, according to another official, but to no avail.
China has refrained from supporting or criticizing the Russian military operation and has repeatedly expressed its support for Moscow in the face of Western sanctions imposed on it.
