Western nations condemn Russia over Ukraine at G20 Indonesia talks

Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers condemned Russia's 'unilateral, illegal and immoral transgression' against Ukraine

Western finance chiefs condemned Moscow's invasion of Ukraine at G20 talks in Indonesia Friday, accusing Russia of sending a "shockwave" through the world economy and its technocrats of complicity in the war's alleged atrocities.

The two-day meeting on the island of Bali began under the shadow of a Russian military assault that has roiled markets, spiked food prices and stoked breakneck inflation, a week after Moscow's top diplomat walked out of talks with the forum's foreign ministers.

"Russia's officials should recognise that they are adding to the horrific consequences of this war through their continued support of the Putin regime. You share responsibility for the innocent lives lost," Yellen added, according to the official.

Russia calls its invasion of Ukraine a "special military operation" and blames subsequent Western sanctions for blocked food shipments and rising energy prices.

Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers condemned Russia's "immoral transgression" against Ukraine, saying that Moscow must take the blame for the impacts on the global economy caused by the war.

Canadian Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland told Russia's delegation they were responsible for "war crimes" in Ukraine because of their support for the invasion, a Canadian official said. 

Both Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov and Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko participated virtually in the meeting. 

Ukraine's Marchenko said Russia's invasion of Ukraine "clearly marks the end of the existing world order", and blamed Moscow for the world facing hunger, inflation and energy insecurity.

- 'Weaponising' food -

The meeting has largely focused on those impacts of the war that are weighing on an already brittle global recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.

In another session, she said Russia's "unjustified war" has sent a "shockwave" through the global economy. 

Yellen has pressed G20 allies for a price cap on Russian oil to choke off Putin's war chest and pressure Moscow to end its invasion while bringing down energy costs.

There is unlikely to be a final communique issued when talks end on Saturday because of the disagreements with Russia.

G20 chair Indonesia -– which pursues a neutral foreign policy –- refrained from disinviting Russia despite Western pressure.

World Bank chief executive David Malpass did not attend, while International Monetary Fund chief Kristalina Georgieva appeared in person after saying Wednesday that the global economic outlook had "darkened significantly" because of Moscow's invasion.

Other issues being tackled by the ministers included digital financial inclusion –- with more than a billion of the world's population still without access to a bank account -– and the deadline for an international tax rules overhaul.

...

Originally published as Western nations condemn Russia over Ukraine at G20 Indonesia talks