The G20 summit in New Delhi concluded on Sunday as India handed over the presidency to Brazil. Despite earlier disagreements, the summit saw both the U.S. and Russia praising the consensus reached, which did not condemn Moscow for its actions in the Ukraine conflict. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged leaders to hold a virtual meeting in November to review progress on policy suggestions and goals. The summit adopted a Leaders’ Declaration that highlighted the human suffering caused by the war in Ukraine and called on all states to refrain from using force to seize territory.
The consensus at the G20 summit came as a surprise, as differing views on the conflict had threatened to derail the meeting. Western countries had called for a condemnation of Russia’s invasion, while Russia had stated its intention to block any resolution that did not align with its own position. However, the Global South, represented by India, played a crucial role in preventing the agenda from being overshadowed by the Ukraine issue.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, head of the Russian delegation, hailed the summit as a success for both India and the Global South. The African Union was also admitted as a permanent member of the G20, further strengthening the bloc’s representation of developing nations. Germany and Britain commended the summit declaration, whereas Ukraine expressed disappointment.
During the summit, Russia indicated that it would return to the Black Sea deal, which allows Ukraine to export grain, if its demands were met. Russia had pulled out of the agreement in July due to a perceived failure to implement a parallel agreement on its food and fertilizer exports. The summit document emphasized the need for the safe flow of grain, food, and fertilizer from both Ukraine and Russia.
On the final day of the summit, leaders including U.S. President Joe Biden, German Olaf Scholz, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Japan’s Fumio Kishida visited the memorial of Indian independence hero Mahatma Gandhi. The leaders paid their respects barefoot at the site where Gandhi was cremated following his assassination in 1948.
President Biden later departed for Vietnam, missing the last session of the summit. The White House stated that it was not aware of any talks between Biden and Lavrov or Chinese Premier Li Qiang, who led their respective country’s delegations. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin did not attend the summit.
The G20 summit faced significant challenges in reaching an agreement, with negotiations on the declaration taking almost 20 days prior to the summit and five days during the event. Disagreements extended beyond the issue of Ukraine and also included differing positions on climate change and the transition to low-carbon energy systems. The European Union acknowledged that the Ukraine conflict was the most contentious issue, and credited India, Brazil, and South Africa for bridging the differences. Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine has resulted in numerous casualties, mass displacement, and global economic turmoil. Moscow has denied committing any atrocities, referring to its actions as a ‘special military operation.’
