On Tuesday, US President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pressed fellow leaders to strongly condemn Russia’s nuclear threats and food embargoes. More discussions and a possible vote come Wednesday at the summit, which has proved unusually inclusive, including amid fears of COVID-19 after Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen tested positive and flew home. No other leaders reported positive. A draft statement by the leaders of the Group of 20 echoes the United Nations’ condemnation of Russia’s war in Ukraine, although it acknowledges the divergent views among members. The cautious wording of the statement reflects tensions at the gathering, which includes leaders from Russia and China, and the challenge the US and its allies face in isolating the government of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Some nations are very keen to avoid becoming embroiled in superpower rivalries. However, if adopted in its current form, the declaration would be a powerful rebuke of the war that has killed thousands of people, raised global security tensions and disrupted the global economy. This would be an especially important step since China and India abstained from condemning Russia’s aggression in a UN resolution in March. The draft statement seen Tuesday by The Associated Press “demands in the strongest terms the aggression of the Russian Federation” and “demands its complete and unconditional withdrawal from the territory of Ukraine.” The G-20 statement notes that there are differing views on the situation and on sanctions against Russia, saying the G-20 is not the forum to resolve security issues. Full Coverage: G-20 Summit US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan denounced Russia’s latest strikes in Ukraine. “It is not lost on us that, as world leaders meet at the G-20 in Bali to discuss issues of vital importance to the lives and livelihoods of people around the world, Russia is once again threatening those lives and destroying critical infrastructure of Ukraine”. he said in a statement. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who headed the Russian delegation to Indonesia in Putin’s place, denounced the Biden administration’s push to condemn Moscow. “All the problems are on the Ukrainian side which categorically refuses to hold any talks and sets obviously unrealistic and insufficient conditions for this situation,” Lavrov said. Another big problem for the global economy in the last two years has been the COVID-19 pandemic. While no cases were reported at the summit except for Cambodia’s prime minister, many of the leaders had attended meetings with him days earlier during a separate summit in Cambodia of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Biden skipped the evening gala hosted by Indonesian President Joko Widodo to attend to unspecified matters. Biden sent his condolences to Widodo and said he would attend a planned tree planting with his fellow G20 leaders on Wednesday, according to a White House official. The official, who was not authorized to comment and spoke on condition of anonymity, noted that it had been a “full day” for the president but insisted that Biden’s absence was not related to COVID-19. Back at the G-20’s main business, Zelenskyy handed over a video camera as he tried to persuade the group to further isolate Russia diplomatically and economically, despite economic concerns that have tested the resolve of many nations. Inflation and slowing economies are already weighing on countries that have sanctioned Russia for starting the war. Higher energy and food costs have hit business around the world as much of Europe prepares to face a winter without Russian gas imports. Indonesia’s Widodo said ominously: “If the war does not end, it will be difficult for the world to move forward.” Zelensky reiterated 10 conditions for ending the conflict that began in February, including the complete withdrawal of Russian troops and full restoration of Ukrainian control over its territory. He spoke days after Ukraine recaptured the strategic city of Kherson from Russian forces, in his country’s latest counteroffensive that forced Moscow to withdraw some forces from the occupied territories. “Ukraine should not be offered to compromise its conscience, sovereignty, territory and independence,” he said. “Ukraine has always been a leader in peacekeeping efforts and the world has seen it. And if Russia says it’s supposed to want to end this war, let it prove it with actions.” At the summit, Biden met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was instrumental this summer in brokering a deal to open Ukrainian grain exports to reduce global food shortages. Biden also met briefly with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose cooperation is needed to secure a price ceiling on Russian oil sought by the U.S. to curb profits Moscow uses to invest in its defense base. . Modi, whose country will take over the G-20 presidency after Indonesia, repeated his call for “the path of ceasefire and diplomacy” in the war in Ukraine and spoke of the efforts of world leaders in World War II. World War to follow a “path of peace”. “ Separately, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had a lengthy meeting on Tuesday with Lavrov to discuss the Black Sea Grains Initiative, UN spokeswoman Florencia Soto Niño said. The agreement, which allowed Ukraine’s major grain exporter to resume exports from ports blocked by the war, will be renewed on Saturday. The US and its allies have responded to Russia’s incursion with their own export controls and other sanctions, making it harder for the Russian military to access key technologies and resupply with drones, artillery and other weapons. Chinese officials have largely avoided publicly criticizing Russia’s war, although Beijing has avoided direct support for the Russians, such as providing weapons. Biden said that during his meeting on Monday with Chinese President Xi Jinping they discussed the war and “reaffirmed our shared belief” that the use or even the threat of nuclear weapons was “completely unacceptable” – a reference to the covert threats by Moscow to use nuclear weapons as its invasion of Ukraine has faltered. Xi told G-20 leaders that the global economy should not be weaponized. “We must resolutely oppose the attempt to politicize food and energy issues or use them as tools and weapons,” he said in translated remarks. After the meeting with Xi, French President Emmanuel Macron said they demanded “respect for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.” In a tweet, Macron said France and China were determined to “put an end to the escalation of the war in Ukraine and deal with its consequences.” The summit is the first for two crucial new partners in Biden’s effort: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Sunak, who took office last month, has promised to continue the steadfast support of his conservative predecessors in Ukraine. He and Biden were to strategize during their meeting Wednesday on new ways to strengthen Ukraine’s defenses over the long term. Meloni has pledged to continue providing arms and aid to Ukraine, but questions remain about her far-right coalition’s commitment to standing up to Russia. She and Biden met on the sidelines of the summit on Tuesday and discussed China, the climate crisis, the impact of Russia’s incursion into the global energy market and their commitment to provide support to Ukraine, according to a White House statement.
AP writers Niniek Karmini, Foster Klug and Adam Schreck in Nusa Dua, Indonesia, and Josh Boak and Aamer Madhani in Washington contributed.
