The United States and its allies have drafted a condemnation of Russia's brutal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine for the G-20 to issue. Meeting in Bali, President Biden and other leaders of the top economies in the world have focused on the issues of nuclear threats, food insecurity, inflation and energy access that have been exacerbated by Russia's war against Ukraine. While some nations like Brazil and India have been avoiding criticisms and sanctions against Russia, a unified statement by the G-20 condemning Russia's war could surface. The Associated Press reports:
"A draft declaration by leaders of the Group of 20 major economies under discussion Tuesday echoes the condemnation of Russia’s war on Ukraine by the United Nations, while acknowledging differing views among members. The careful wording of the statement reflects tensions prevailing at the gathering, which includes leaders from Russia and China, and the challenge facing the U.S. and its allies to isolate Russian President Vladimir Putin’s government as some nations seek to avoid becoming entangled in antagonisms between the big powers.
The statement seen Tuesday by The Associated Press “deplores in the strongest terms the aggression by the Russian Federation” and “demands its complete and unconditional withdrawal from the territory of Ukraine.” The G-20 draft statement also noted there were different views on the situation and sanctions against Russia, saying that the G-20 was not the forum for resolving security issues." (our emphasis)
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy addressed the global leaders via video and presented Ukraine's 10-point plan for peace, which includes Russia's withdrawal from all of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea which Russia invaded in 2014. Zelenskyy has stated that peace talks with the Putin regime would be negotiating with terrorists and war criminals, and has stressed that a new government in Russia could be a partner in negotiations. War criminal and thug Vladimir Putin was represented at the G-20 summit by his deceitful Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
(photo: A grim Lavrov arrives in Bali for summit. Getty)
