Russia's Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, has issued a warning that Russia will block the final declaration of the upcoming G20 summit if it does not adequately reflect Moscow's position on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and other international crises. Lavrov's statement, made during a speech at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations on September 1, raises concerns about the potential disruption of the G20 meeting scheduled for September 9-10 in New Delhi.
Lavrov, a long-serving diplomat in President Vladimir Putin's administration, emphasized that Russia's stance on the Ukraine conflict is non-negotiable and must be acknowledged in the G20 declaration.
"There will be no general declaration on behalf of all members if our position is not reflected," he stated.
The Ukraine conflict, which began in February 2022 remains a major point of contention between Russia and Western countries. The Kremlin characterizes the war as an existential battle against a Western alliance it perceives as seeking to dismantle Russia and seize its extensive natural resources. In contrast, Western nations deny these allegations but have supported Ukraine militarily and imposed multiple rounds of economic sanctions in response to the Russian invasion.
Notably, President Vladimir Putin has not traveled abroad since March, when the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for him on suspicions of war crimes related to the Ukraine conflict. This further complicates Russia's diplomatic engagement on the international stage.
While some G20 members, including China, India, and Brazil, have called for a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine crisis, they have also maintained their right to determine their individual relationships with Moscow. China, in particular, has accused the West of exacerbating the conflict by providing military support to Ukraine.
Lavrov accused Western nations of undermining international institutions by advancing their own agendas and indicated that if consensus cannot be reached at the G20 meeting, an alternative approach would be to issue a non-binding communique from the G20 presidency or a document focusing on specific decisions within the G20's purview, allowing member states to express their views separately.
"Another option is to adopt a document that focuses on specific decisions in the sphere of G20 competences, and let everyone say the rest on their own behalf," Lavrov shared.
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