Wrapup 8: Wrangling over Ukraine war dominates summit of G20 major economies
15/11/2022 01:25
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Draft declaration: 'Most' G20 members condemn Ukraine war
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Ukraine's Zelenskiy pushes his plan to end conflict
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Indonesia appeals for end to political polarisation
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U.S. President Biden skips gala dinner on island of Bali
By Fransiska Nangoy and Vladimir Soldatkin
NUSA DUA, Indonesia, Nov 15 (Reuters) - A Western-led
push to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine dominated Tuesday's
Group of 20 summit on the Indonesian island of Bali where
leaders of major economies grappled with a dizzying array of
issues from hunger to nuclear threats.
President Vladimir Putin's Feb. 24 invasion of neighbouring
Ukraine has pummelled the global economy and revived Cold
War-era geopolitical divisions just as the world was emerging
from the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As at other recent international forums, the United States
and its allies were pursuing a statement from the two-day G20
summit to condemn Moscow's military actions.
But Russia said "politicisation" of the summit was unfair.
"Yes, there is a war going on in Ukraine, a hybrid war that
the West has unleashed and been preparing for years," said
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, repeating Putin's line that
military alliance NATO's expansion had threatened Russia.
A 16-page draft declaration seen by Reuters, which diplomats
said was yet to be adopted by leaders, acknowledged the rift.
"Most members strongly condemned the war in Ukraine and
stressed it is causing immense human suffering and exacerbating
existing fragilities in the global economy," it said.
"There were other views and different assessments of the
situation and sanctions."
The summit is the first G20 leaders' gathering since Russia
sent its forces into Ukraine. The 20 nations account for more
than 80% of the world's gross domestic product, 75% of
international trade and 60% of its population.
'SAVE THE WORLD'
Hosts Indonesia have pleaded for unity and a focus on action
to resolve problems like inflation, hunger and high energy
prices, all exacerbated by the Ukraine war.
"We have no other option, collaboration is needed to save
the world," said Indonesian President Joko Widodo.
"G20 must be the catalyst for inclusive economic recovery.
We should not divide the world into parts. We must not allow the
world to fall into another Cold War."
The draft summit document also said G20 central banks would
calibrate monetary tightening with an eye on the global
inflation problem, while fiscal stimulus should be "temporary
and targeted" to help the vulnerable while not hiking prices.
On debt, it voiced concern about the "deteriorating"
situation of some middle-income countries and stressed the
importance of all creditors sharing a fair burden.
But it did not mention China, which has been criticised in
the West for delaying efforts to ease debt strains for some
emerging economies.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told the summit in a
virtual address that now was the time to stop Russia's invasion
and implement a 10-point peace plan he has proposed. Kyiv is
demanding a full Russian withdrawal from occupied territories.
Zelenskiy called for restoring "radiation safety" at the
Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, price
restrictions on Russian energy resources, and an expanded grain
export initiative.
A U.S. official said Washington wanted a clear G20 message
against Russia's invasion and its impact on the global economy,
while German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said there were encouraging
signs of consensus that the war was unacceptable.
Lavrov said he listened to Zelenskiy's address. He accused
him of prolonging the conflict and ignoring Western advice.
Russia has said Putin was too busy to attend the summit.
U.S.-CHINA RAPPROCHEMENT?
There was an encouraging sign on the eve of the summit,
however, when U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi
Jinping, whose nations have been increasingly estranged, met and
pledged more frequent communication.
Both men stated their opposition to the use of nuclear
weapons, according to readouts from both sides.
Russia has said it reserves the right to use any means
including nuclear capability to defend its security.
China and Russia are close, but Beijing has been careful not
to provide any direct material support for the Ukraine war that
could trigger Western sanctions against it.
Xi told French President Emmanuel Macron during another
bilateral meeting that Beijing advocated a ceasefire in Ukraine
and peace talks, Chinese state media reported.
Civil society groups blasted the G20 draft declaration for
failing to take action on hunger, not strengthening efforts to
fund development, and losing sight of an earlier commitment to
provide $100 billion in climate financing by 2023.
"The G20 is merely repeating old commitments from previous
years or noting developments elsewhere, rather than taking on
leadership themselves," said Friederike Roder of the group
Global Citizen. "Fifty million people are at the brink of
starvation as we speak. There is no time for the G20 to issue
calls to action - they are the ones who have to act."
Leaders mingled at a gala dinner on Tuesday evening, many
wearing traditional Indonesian batik shirts. Host Widodo quipped
that he hoped the food was not too spicy for foreigners.
Biden, however, missed the meal. "It's been a long day and
he has other matters he needed to attend to," a White House
official said.
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G20 Summit: What you need to know now urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N32A0HA
FACTBOX-G20 summit: Which leaders will attend Bali summit?
urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL4N3272OX
For host Indonesia, a G20 summit dogged by Russia-Ukraine
rancour urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL4N32906Q
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(Reporting by Fransiska Nangoy, Stanley Widianto, Nandita Bose,
Leika Kihara, David Lawder and Simon Lewis in Nusa Dua, Andrea
Shalal in Washington, Andreas Rinke in Berlin, Lidia Kelly in
Melbourne and Eduardo Baptista in Beijing; writing by Raju
Gopalakrishnan and Andrew Cawthorne; editing by Tom Hogue and
Mark Heinrich)
((Ed.Davies@thomsonreuters.com;))