EU delegation will not support G20 statement unless it condemns Russia's war

This was reported by Reuters.

On March 1, on the eve of the G20 foreign ministers' meeting, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy emphasized that the success of the New Delhi meeting would depend on decisions on the war in Ukraine.

The ministerial meeting will take place a few days after the G20 finance ministers met in Bengaluru, where they also discussed Russia's war in Ukraine.

On March 1, on the eve of the G20 foreign ministers' meeting, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs emphasized that the success of the New Delhi meeting would depend on decisions on the war in Ukraine.

The ministerial meeting will take place a few days after the conversation between the G20 finance ministers in Bengaluru, where they also discussed Russia's war in Ukraine.

Delegates at the Bengaluru meeting disputed whether to condemn Russia for the war, but failed to reach a consensus on a joint statement and settled on a final document instead.

"This war has to be condemned. I hope, I am sure that India's diplomatic capacity will be used in order to make Russia understand that this war has to finish," Josep Borrell, the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy said.

A EU source said that the delegation would not support a statement at the G20 meeting if it did not include a condemnation of Russia's war in Ukraine. 

This information became known a few hours after Russia said that it considers the G20 a prestigious forum "where balanced consensus decisions should be made in the interests of all mankind."

"We intend to firmly and openly talk about the reasons and instigators of the current serious problems in world politics and the global economy. The destructive policy of the U.S. and its allies has already 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 Russian Embassy in New Delhi said.

40 delegations are taking part in the meeting in New Delhi, including Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang.

The main G20 meetings will take place on Thursday after the welcome dinner on March 1.

• This week, a meeting of foreign ministers will take place in New Delhi, India. Russian aggression in Ukraine will be the main topic there, despite India's opposition.