The two paragraphs on the Ukraine conflict were supported by 18 of the group’s 20 members – the exceptions being Russia and China. Senior Indian official Ajay Seth said the Russian and Chinese delegations refused to sign the final declaration on the grounds that they only had a mandate “to deal with economic and financial issues”.
However, the other 18 delegations took the view that the war in Ukraine “has implications for the global economy” and should therefore be mentioned, Seth said.
Russia accused the West of “destabilizing” the G20 meeting. The US, the EU and the G7 states “obstructed the adoption of joint decisions” by trying to accommodate their interpretation of the Ukraine conflict in the final declaration, the Foreign Ministry said in Moscow.
The US and its allies had made “clear” attempts at blackmail and given “ultimatums” to several delegations, the Russian Foreign Ministry criticized. It called on the West to end its “destructive policies” and to acknowledge the “realities of a multipolar world”. The G20 group of important industrialized and emerging countries must remain an “economic forum” and must not interfere in security policy.
According to several government officials who wished to remain anonymous, China had campaigned at the meeting to tone down statements about the Ukraine war. China “didn’t want to condemn the war,” said one of them.
Beijing has been trying to position itself as a neutral party since Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine began a year ago, but maintains close ties with strategic ally Russia. On Friday – the first anniversary of the Russian invasion of the neighboring country – China presented a twelve-point plan for a “political settlement” of the conflict, which Ukraine’s western allies view with skepticism.
With regard to the state of the world economy, the Indian summary of the G20 consultations stated that the prospects had improved somewhat, but that global growth remained slow. The risks from high inflation rates, a possible new flare-up of the corona pandemic and high levels of debt in many poor countries also persist.
