Division Among G20 Nations Over Bid To Condemn Russia's Ukraine Invasion

Zelensky Seeks Bloc’s Help To End War Under His Plan, Indonesia Urges Action On Global Economic Problems

Nusa Dua (Indonesia): Disagreement emerged at a Group of 20 (G20) summit on Tuesday as the United States and its allies backed a resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which Russia’s foreign minister dismissed as unwarranted politicisation.

The summit in Bali is the first G20 meeting since Russia’ sent its troops to Ukraine in February. The warhas overshadowed the meeting despite calls from host Indonesia for unity and a focus on action to resolve economic problems like inflation, and food, energy security.

“Most members strongly condemned the war in Ukraine and stressed it is causing immense human suffering and exacerbating existing fragilities in the global economy,” a 16-page draft declaration said. “There were other views and different assessments of the situation and sanctions,” said the draft, which diplomats said had yet to be adopted by the leaders.

A US official said earlier the US expected the G20 to condemn Russia’s war in Ukraine and its impact on the global economy. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said there were encouraging signs of a consensus that Russia’s war against Ukraine was not acceptable.

G20 gatherings in the past have failed to produce joint declarations due to disagreement between Russia and other members on language, including on how to describe the war.