G20 declaration tip-toes around Russian invasion of Ukraine: ‘Not the platform to resolve geopolitical issues’

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A declaration released by the Group of 20 on Saturday did not appear to condemn Russia for the invasion of Ukraine – a stark difference from the group’s statement about the war last year.

The summit, which kicked off in New Delhi, India on Saturday, did not include China’s Xi Jinping or Russian President Vladimir Putin. Both leaders decided not to come this year, despite their eligibility.

While the G20 acknowledged “human suffering and negative added impacts of the war in Ukraine,” their statement did not include any harsh language towards Russia.

“Concerning the war in Ukraine, while recalling the discussion in Bali, we reiterated our national positions and resolutions adopted at the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly […] and underscored that all states must act in a manner consistent with the Purposes and Principles of the UN Charter in its entirety,” the joint statement read.

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 Recep Tayyip Erdoğan President of Turkey, L, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, C, and US President Joe Biden listen during opening session of the G20 Leaders’ Summit on September 9, 2023 in New Delhi, Delhi. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

“All states must refrain from the threat or use of force to seek territorial acquisition against the territorial integrity and sovereignty or political independence of any state,” the statement added. “The use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is inadmissible.”

In their declaration, the G20 stressed that their forum’s purpose was for economic discussions rather than security issues. They referenced how the Russo-Ukrainian War hurt global food supply and energy security, among other issues, but concluded that “there were different views and assessments of the situation.”

“Reaffirming that the G20 is the premier forum for international economic cooperation, and recognizing that while the G20 is not the platform to resolve geopolitical and security issues, we acknowledge that these issues can have significant consequences for the global economy,” the group added.

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A woman sits near a G20 summit logo installed along a street in New Delhi on Sept. 6, 2023.  (SAJJAD HUSSAIN/AFP via Getty Images)

The milquetoast statement was a dramatic difference from the group’s statement at the Bali summit last November.

“[This group] deplores in the strongest terms the aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine and demands its complete and unconditional withdrawal from the territory of Ukraine,” the statement read. “Most members strongly condemned the war in Ukraine and stressed it is causing immense human suffering and exacerbating existing fragilities in the global economy – constraining growth, increasing inflation, disrupting supply chains, heightening energy and food insecurity, and elevating financial stability risks.”

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R) meets with the US President Joe Biden (L) during the G20 Leaders’ Summit 2023 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, India on September 09, 2023.  (Press Information Bureau / Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

The summit ends on Sunday. The group’s agenda for the weekend includes food security, digital public infrastructure and fossil fuel alternatives.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.