G20 tensions flare over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as India resists putting word ‘war’ in official statements
- US condemned the ‘illegal and unjustified war against Ukraine’, while France and Germany insisted any joint statement from G20 must refer to the ‘war’
- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi avoided mention of Ukraine or its invasion by Russia – reports say India wants to keep the word ‘war’ out of statements
Tensions over Russia’s war on Ukraine flared on Friday at meetings of financial chiefs of the Group of 20 leading economies, where geopolitics affected the atmosphere – if not the agenda – of the gathering in the Indian technology hub of Bangalore.
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen condemned the “illegal and unjustified war against Ukraine” at a session attended by Russian officials, and reiterated calls for G20 nations to do more to support Ukraine and hinder Moscow’s war effort.
“I urge the Russian officials here at the G20 to understand that their continued work for the Kremlin makes them complicit in Putin’s atrocities”, Yellen said.
“They bear responsibility for the lives and livelihoods being taken in Ukraine and the harm caused globally”.
As the meetings convened on the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, such issues were bound to crop up, despite host India’s reluctance to be caught between those countries that support Kyiv and those – including China – that support Moscow.
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Kicking off the meetings on Friday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi avoided mention of Ukraine.