Lavrov Fires Back at the West over G20 Summit Talk
Restatement of the issue: At Thursday’s G20 summit in Indonesia, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov took aim at Western leaders who were pressing the group to add a line that would condemn Russia’s actions in Ukraine. According to Lavrov, the West tried to “politicise” the joint declaration that was shaped by the 20 countries’ leaders.
“Western colleagues tried to make our declaration a political circus”
Lavrov explained that “our Western colleagues tried in every way to make that declaration politicised and tried to push through language that implied condemning the actions of the Russian Federation on behalf of the entire G20.” He added, “But let’s do this in a fair way and let’s make it clear that, on this topic, we have differences.”
Key points from the G20 draft declaration
- Bipartisan sentiment: “Most” members strongly condemned the war in Ukraine.
- Russia’s opposition: Any mention of criticism towards its own actions is seen as a big no‑no.
- “Hybrid war” claims: Lavrov insisted the conflict is a hybrid war the “West has unleashed and been preparing for years.”
Lavrov’s take on the “special military operation”
Russia continues to refer to the conflict as a “special military operation,” a tag that Lavrov warns keeps overshadowing the summit’s agenda. He pointed out that even with the host country Indonesia’s call for unity and economic action—fluff-named goals like fighting inflation and securing food and energy—the war’s shadow loomed large.
Closing the deal on the declaration
Lavrov, who led Russia’s delegation after President Vladimir Putin had to skip the event, looked optimistic. “Work on the declaration is nearing completion,” he said. “It will be approved after Wednesday’s meeting.” He further clarified that the declaration would cover all highlighted areas, including food, energy, healthcare, and digitalisation.
Bottom line: A “hybrid war” lens on a global summit
In the end, Lavrov’s message was clear: the G20 cold war rhetoric sunk the debate, and Russia wants a balanced, fair declaration. When it comes to the wording, it’s all about how “we’d all say ‘oh no’” vs. “let’s focus on issues that unite us.” The summit’s task remains: turn a military spat into a lane for solutions—like a pizza that everyone can share, even if some want a pepperoni topping and others don’t.
