The EU opposes Russia using the G20 meetings in Indonesia as a “platform for its propaganda” on the conflict in Ukraine, spokeswoman for European diplomatic chief Josep Borrell warned on Thursday.
A meeting of the foreign ministers of the G20 countries will take place on the island of Bali on Thursday and Friday to prepare for the summit of the heads of state and government of the twenty powers planned for November at the same location. Josep Borrell has not scheduled a meeting with the head of Russian diplomacy Sergey Lavrov for the past two days, his services said.
“A threat to credibility”
“The appalling war against Ukraine and the consequences of Russian aggression will be discussed at these meetings, but we will not allow Moscow to use the G20 as a platform for its propaganda,” its spokeswoman, Nabila Massrali, told the European Commission daily Press conference. “Russia’s high-level involvement may jeopardize the G20’s credibility, effectiveness and relevance,” she warned.
Indonesia invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to the November summit in Bali, despite pressure from the West, including from the United States, to isolate him. As a compromise solution, Jakarta also invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. “There is no question that the EU is boycotting the G20 as it remains an important forum. We must ensure multilateralism can work in times of crisis,” the spokesman added, as the world faces famine, soaring energy and food prices, and spiraling climate risks.
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The G20, the club of the world’s 20 largest economies, includes in its ranks Western countries that have imposed sanctions on Moscow, but also other more cautious countries such as China, India and South Africa.
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