Sergey Lavrov left several meetings after criticism from his German, Ukrainian and American counterparts. It is the first time since the beginning of the war that these political figures have met for an international summit.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov avoided meetings of G20 foreign ministers on Friday (July 8) after a spate of Western remarks condemned Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
Sergey Lavrov and his American counterpart, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, met for the first time since the war began in February at this meeting of G20 diplomatic leaders on the Indonesian island of Bali. “What we’ve already heard today is a huge chorus from around the world, not just the United States, for (…) the (Russian) aggression to stop,” Antony Blinken told reporters.
Sergei Lavrov was absent from several meetings
Indonesia, which is trying to maintain a neutral position as host country of the G20, had called for an end to the conflict from the start and stressed its grave consequences around the world. “It is our responsibility to end the war as soon as possible and to settle our differences at the negotiating table, not on the battlefield,” Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said in the presence of her Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. The effects of the war “are being felt all over the world, on food, energy and budgets,” she said. “And as always, poor countries and developing countries are hit hardest.”
Sergei Lavrov walked out of the morning session as his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock criticized Moscow over the war in Ukraine, diplomats say. Sergei Lavrov was also absent from a meeting when Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba spoke online and when US Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned Russia, several diplomats told AFP.
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Antony Blinken had refused to meet separately with his Russian counterpart, denouncing Russia’s responsibility for the world food and energy crisis and asking Moscow to authorize grain exports from Ukraine. In response, Russia’s foreign minister said he would “not chase” Washington to hold talks.
“Unjustified War”
Sergei Lavrov condemned the approach by Western countries to using the G20 arena for anything other than a forum to discuss major global issues. “Our western partners tried to avoid talking about global economic issues. As soon as they spoke, they almost immediately began frenzied criticism of Russia about the situation in Ukraine, calling us aggressors,” he regretted.
Antony Blinken had previously met with French and German ministers and a British representative to discuss this “unjustifiable and unprovoked” war, the Foreign Office said in a statement. They explored “ways to address the global food security concerns arising from Russia’s deliberate focus on Ukrainian agriculture”. The United States, supported by some of its Western allies, had called for Russia to be excluded from international fora.
The invasion of Ukraine changed priorities
But Indonesia, worried about its neutrality, had confirmed its invitation to the Russian foreign minister while also inviting its Ukrainian counterpart. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba urged participants to “commemorate the 344 families who lost their children after hearing Russian lies.” “The minister of the country responsible for her death stands before you today to share his thoughts on how Russia views cooperation in our globalized world,” he continued.
The meeting was also overshadowed by the announcement of the assassination attempt that claimed the life of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during an election campaign event in his country. This attack on a longtime United States ally is “a very sad moment,” estimated Antony Blinken, while Shinzo Abe’s death has not yet been announced but is in a “serious condition.”
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This G20 summit kicks off the heads of state summit to be held on the Indonesian island in November to look at the means of global recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. But the invasion of Ukraine shifted priorities, bringing Westerners together to denounce the Russian offensive and sending food and energy prices skyrocketing. At the end of the tense meeting, contrary to tradition, there will be no group photo, an Indonesian official said.
British Departure
However, the front of the western allies was damaged by the hasty departure of the head of British diplomacy, Liz Truss, after the announcement of Boris Johnson’s resignation as leader of the British Conservative Party. She left the island of Bali on Friday morning, a British embassy official confirmed to AFP. US Secretary of State Blinken was also set to seek to resume dialogue with Beijing during talks with his counterpart Wang Yi, scheduled for Saturday after months of tensions over several issues, including Taiwan.
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The two officials were tensely discussing the “guard rails” surrounding the bilateral relationship, but also exploring opportunities for cooperation, a US East Asia official said. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met his Russian counterpart on Thursday for talks dominated by Ukraine.
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