G20 countries are weakening their support for Ukraine amid pressure to favor negotiations with Russia – Financial Times

The G20 countries are reducing their support for Ukraine amid increasing pressure to push for peace negotiations with Russia.

This was reported by the Financial Times, which analyzed the joint declaration of the G20 summit in Rio.

The declaration dedicated only one paragraph to Ukraine, compared to seven paragraphs at the previous summit in New Delhi.

The previously strong criticism of Russia has been softened, containing only a general mention of “human suffering” caused by the invasion, without specific criticism of attacks on civilian infrastructure or nuclear threats.

The statement agreed upon yesterday references “the negative additional consequences of the war” and welcomes “initiatives that support a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace.”

Although the G20 has refrained for the second consecutive year from openly condemning Russia’s invasion, last year’s statement had far more detailed language. A source indicated that some European countries attempted to make the wording stronger, but “nobody wanted to push too far, or it would have led to a fight and no statement at all.”

Ultimately, the central themes of the declaration were taxation of the ultra-wealthy, poverty reduction, a ceasefire in Gaza, UN Security Council reform, and climate change.

It was previously reported that President Putin would not attend the G20 summit in Brazil due to the ICC warrant, with the Russian delegation being led by Sergey Lavrov.

Last year, Ukraine criticized the G20 summit’s final declaration for lacking condemnation of the Russian invasion and instead including calls for diplomacy and peacebuilding.