Ukraine says G20 statement on Russian war ‘nothing to be proud of’

World leaders met at the G20 this week to discuss the major issues facing the planet — but one of their moves has not gone down well.

World leaders at the G20 have been slammed by Ukraine over a statement on the Russian invasion, which denounced the use of force for territorial gain but refrained from direct criticism of Russia by name.

The powerful group of leaders met in New Delhi this week to discuss the major issues facing the planet. However, their joint statement on the Ukraine conflict has raised eyebrows.

“Ukraine is grateful to the partners who tried to include strong wording in the text. At the same time, in terms of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the Group of 20 has nothing to be proud of,” said Oleg Nikolenko, a spokesman at the Ukrainian foreign affairs ministry.

Nikolenko posted a photo of a part of the statement edited in red, changing “the war in Ukraine” to “the war against Ukraine” and adding references to Russia.

G20 adopted a final declaration. We are grateful to the partners who tried to include strong wording in the text. However, in terms of Russia's aggression against Ukraine, G20 has nothing to be proud of. This is how the main elements of the text could look to be closer to reality pic.twitter.com/qZqYluVKKS

— Oleg Nikolenko (@OlegNikolenko_) September 9, 2023

The document had said that “all states” should “refrain from the threat or use of force to seek territorial acquisition against the territorial integrity and sovereignty or political independence of any state”.

There was no explicit reference to Russia, unlike in a G20 statement in Bali last year that cited a UN resolution condemning “in the strongest terms the aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine”.

“It’s obvious that the Ukraine’s participation (in the meeting) would allow the participants to better understand the situation,” Nikolenko said.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin. Picture: AFP

Other key moments from G20

The G20 summit in New Delhi managed to defy expectations and reach consensus on a joint declaration by world leaders, but not without compromises over the Ukraine conflict and action on climate change.

Here are the other defining moments of the summit so far:

And then there were 21

The Group of 20 leading economies began the weekend’s proceedings by welcoming the African Union, the newest member of a bloc which already represented 85 per cent of world GDP.

Host and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has portrayed this weekend as India’s diplomatic coming of age, and his country’s presidency as an opportunity to give a voice to the needs of the Global South.

Modi opened the summit’s formal proceedings by inviting African Union President Azali Assoumani to take a seat alongside world leaders with the ceremonial bang of a gavel.

Before Saturday, the G20 comprised 19 countries and the European Union, with South Africa its only member state from the continent.

The African Union at full strength has 55 members but six junta-ruled nations are currently suspended. It has a collective GDP of $3 trillion with some 1.4 billion people.

Failure on climate

Leaders failed to agree on a phase-out of fossil fuels, despite a UN report a day earlier deeming the drawdown “indispensable” to achieving net-zero emissions.

G20 nations account for around 80 per cent of global emissions and an inability to agree on the phase-out is a cloud over a key round of climate discussions to begin in November in the oil-rich United Arab Emirates.

“We need stronger bolder action from leaders,” said Madhura Joshi, senior associate at climate think tank E3G.

But for the first time the G20 backed a target of tripling global renewable energy capacity and referenced the need for emissions to peak before 2025.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (L), US President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Picture: EVELYN HOCKSTEIN / POOL / AFP

It also acknowledged that limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius will require slashing greenhouse gases 43 per cent by 2030 from 2019 levels.

‘Real big’ Middle East infrastructure

A broad alliance including the United States and Saudi Arabia unveiled ambitious plans to create a modern-day Spice Route linking Europe, the Middle East and India.

If the initiative goes ahead, it would establish railways, ports, electricity and data networks and hydrogen pipelines in a counterbalance to lavish Chinese infrastructure spending.

One proposed project would link rail and port facilities across the Middle East, potentially speeding trade between India and Europe by up to 40 per cent.

The plans are also being touted as a means of helping normalise relations between Israel and Gulf Arab states.

“This is a real big deal,” said US President Joe Biden, locking arms with Modi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in a triple handshake.

India or Bharat?

For days India has been abuzz with rumours that official usage of the country’s English name would be dropped.

Modi gave the biggest signal yet of a potential change in his opening address to the summit, seated behind a country nameplate labelled “Bharat”.

India and Bharat are both official names for the country under its constitution. Modi himself typically refers to the nation as “Bharat”, a word steeped in Hindu religious symbolism and dating back to ancient scripture.

Members of his Hindu nationalist party have campaigned against using the better-known moniker India, which has roots in Western antiquity and was imposed during the British conquest.

Originally published as Ukraine says G20 statement on Russian war ‘nothing to be proud of’