Belgium, (Brussels Morning Newspaper) Josep Borrell, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, stressed the importance of condemning the war in Ukraine.
Speaking ahead of the meeting of G20 foreign ministers in India, Borrell stated that the success of the meeting will depend on its effect on the war, according to Reuters reporting on Wednesday.
Last month, G20 finance ministers failed to agree on whether to condemn Russia for the war, with Moscow announcing it would use the meeting of foreign ministers to discuss current economic and political crises.
“This has to be condemned,” Borrell stressed and added, “I hope, I am sure that India’s diplomatic capacity will be used in order to make Russia understand that this has to finish.”
According to an EU source, the EU delegation is not planning to support a G20 statement if it does not condemn the war in Ukraine.
Moscow’s announcements
Earlier on Wednesday, Moscow described the coming G20 meeting as a forum “where balanced consensus decisions should be made in the interests of all humankind.”
On Tuesday, the Russian Embassy in India noted in a statement “we intend to firmly and openly talk about the reasons and instigators of the current serious problems in world politics and the global economy.”
According to the embassy, NATO members have “put the world on the brink of a disaster, provoked a rollback in socio-economic development, and seriously aggravated the situation of the poorest countries.”
The Indian government noted that the meeting will focus on the war in Ukraine and added that “questions relating to food, energy and fertilizer security, the impact that the conflict has on these economic challenges that we face” will receive due attention.
Vinay Mohan Kwatra, Foreign Secretary of India, noted that he expects attendants of the meeting to send a clear message on terrorism and the role of cryptocurrencies. He added that rising tensions between the US and China will likely be discussed at the coming meeting. The meeting is to be held tomorrow, with 40 delegations to attend, including top diplomats from the US, EU, China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Australia, among other nations.
