A draft communiqué agreed by diplomats, seen by the Financial Times and confirmed by two delegations, said: “Most members strongly condemned the war in Ukraine and stressed that it is causing enormous human suffering and exacerbating existing weaknesses in the global economy.” The language about war and Moscow’s repeated use of nuclear rhetoric is stronger than Western officials anticipated and underscores growing concern among non-Western states about Vladimir Putin’s invasion and its far-reaching effects. Xi Jinping, China’s president and Putin’s most important global ally, said in his address to other leaders that the G20 “must resolutely oppose the attempt to politicize food and energy issues or use them as tools and weapons,” in some among his strongest languages the consequences of war. The Chinese leader said the crisis in food and energy markets was caused by “disrupted supply chains” and added that “unilateral sanctions must be lifted.” Western countries argue that Russia’s war has cut off Ukraine’s food exports, while Moscow has blamed Western sanctions for curbing its own shipments. Putin chose not to attend the summit in Bali, Indonesia, instead sending his foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, who is set to leave the event a day early on Tuesday night. Western leaders used their opening speeches to call on other countries, many of which have refused to publicly condemn Putin’s invasion, to step up pressure on Moscow to end the conflict. “The use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is unacceptable. Peaceful conflict resolution, crisis management efforts, and diplomacy and dialogue are vital. Today’s age must not be a war,” the draft statement reads. The communiqué was agreed by the country’s representatives on Monday evening after days of wrangling between Western officials and those from Russia and China. It will be formally adopted by G20 leaders on Wednesday, the second day of the summit. The document’s language “represents quite a diplomatic victory for us,” said a Western official involved in the negotiations. Officials had earlier warned that Russia’s objection to condemning the war and China’s support for Moscow could mean the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, risked being the first to fail to agree on a joint statement. as Western leaders sought to rally support for Kyiv and condemnation of Moscow. The G20 “will make it clear that Russia’s war is wreaking havoc on people everywhere,” a senior US official said, adding that there was a growing trend of “countries from different parts of the world” speaking out against the conflict. The Indian delegation played a large role in reaching consensus among member states on language criticizing the Russian invasion, according to three officials with knowledge of the negotiations. The language of the draft statement echoed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s words to Putin in September that “now is not the time for war.” In a special video address to leaders Tuesday morning at a session devoted to the war and its impact on global food and energy markets, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, addressing the “leaders of the G19” emphatically, snubbed Russia and reiterated demands for Moscow to withdraw its troops from his country. “I want this aggressive Russian war to end fairly and on the basis of the UN Charter and international law,” he said. Zelensky added that Ukraine should not be offered peace deals that would jeopardize its “conscience, sovereignty, territory and independence.” Recommended Lavrov remained in the room during Zelesny’s speech, and Western leaders remained as Lavrov spoke, according to those in attendance. The draft statement said the war in Ukraine “constrains growth, increases inflation, disrupts supply chains, increases energy and food insecurity, and increases risks to financial stability.” He added: “There were other views and different assessments of the situation and the sanctions.” In his opening speech at the summit, host Joko Widodo, the Indonesian president, warned fellow leaders: “If the war does not end, it will be difficult for us to take responsibility for the future.” Tuesday afternoon’s meeting between G20 leaders will focus on global health, followed by an official reception in the evening. Additional reporting by Maiqi Ding in Beijing, Edward White in Seoul and Demetri Sevastopulo in Washington
