Russia praised the G20 summit declaration, which refrained from directly criticizing Moscow over the war in Ukraine, stating that the group's leaders are acting in favor of resolving the conflict as discussions enter their second and final day on Sunday. The group adopted a consensus declaration in New Delhi on Saturday that avoided condemning Russia for the war but urged all countries not to use force to seize territory. Russia claims its actions in Ukraine are a "special military operation."
Interfax reported Svetlana Lukash, Russia's representative in the group, stating: "There were very tough negotiations on the issue of Ukraine. The collective position of BRICS countries and their partners was successful and reflected everything in a balanced way." The BRICS group includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
In the weeks leading up to the summit, G20 countries worked hard to reach a consensus regarding the conflict in Ukraine, with Western nations urging various countries to criticize Moscow for its invasion, while Russia stated it would obstruct any decision that did not reflect its views.
Lukash remarked, "This was one of the most challenging G20 summits in the forum's nearly twenty-year history. It took about 20 days to agree on the declaration before the summit and five days here." She continued, "This was not only due to disagreements on the issue of Ukraine but also because of differing positions on all major issues, including climate change and transitioning to low-carbon energy systems."
An unnamed EU official stated on Sunday that discussions regarding the G20 leaders' declaration continued until the last moment, with the war in Ukraine being the most contentious issue before reaching consensus. The official praised India's strong leadership, adding that Brazil and South Africa also played a crucial role in the negotiations.
U.S. President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak were among the participants in the summit hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who aimed to play a pivotal role in balancing the interests of the Global South with those of the West.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry stated that the Delhi declaration "is not something to be proud of," adding that Ukraine's presence would have provided participants with a better understanding of the situation. Ukraine has long questioned whether it could participate in a summit of the world's largest economies.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and displaced millions while causing economic disruptions worldwide. Moscow denies committing atrocities during the conflict.
