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G20 leaders riven over Ukraine

10.09.2023 13:10
Discussions on the G20 leaders' declaration went on till the last minute as Ukraine conflict was the most contentious issue before a consensus was reached, the Reuters news agency reported on Sunday.
A general view of world leaders attending the closing session of the G20 Summit at the ITPO Convention Centre Pragati Maidan in New Delhi, India, 10 September 2023. The G20 Heads of State and Government summit took place in the Indian capital on 09 and 10 September, where the participants earlier paid tribute at the Mahatama Gandhi memorial on the
A general view of world leaders attending the closing session of the G20 Summit at the ITPO Convention Centre Pragati Maidan in New Delhi, India, 10 September 2023. The G20 Heads of State and Government summit took place in the Indian capital on 09 and 10 September, where the participants earlier paid tribute at the Mahatama Gandhi memorial on the Photo: INDIA PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU PAP/EPA.

It quoted a European Union official, who did not want to be identified.

In the weeks leading to the New Delhi summit, G20 countries had struggled to find a consensus on the Ukraine conflict with the West demanding countries call out Russia for its invasion of Ukraine and Moscow saying it would block any resolution that did not reflect its views.

The Group of 20 adopted a consensus declaration on the opening day of the two-day summit on Saturday that avoided condemning Russia for the war in Ukraine but called on all states not to use force to grab territory.

The leaders' declaration also called for the implementation of the Black Sea initiative for the safe flow of grain, food and fertiliser from Ukraine and Russia.

The EU official, however, said there was not a single word from Russia on the Black Sea grain deal and the country finds itself more isolated following the summit.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters the summit declaration "does a very good job of standing up for the principle that states cannot use force to seek territorial acquisition or to violate the territorial integrity and sovereignty or political independence of other states".

Germany and Britain have also praised the resolution, but Ukraine said "it was nothing to be proud of".

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, the head of the Russian delegation, said the summit was a success for India as well as the Global South, the world's developing countries.

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said that Russia's aggression against Ukraine could shake the foundation of the G20.

Wrapping up the event on Sunday, French President Emmanuel Macron said the G20, which was founded to solve international economic issues, was not necessarily the place to expect diplomatic progress on the war in Ukraine.

However, he argued that the G20 declaration was not a diplomatic victory for Russia, which emerged isolated from the summit.


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Source: Reuters