NUSA DUA, Indonesia – Despite a bleak global outlook that has examined other countries’ resolve, President Joe Biden was scheduled to try to persuade the world’s biggest economies to even further isolate Russia diplomatically as well as economically over its invasion of Ukraine. President Biden to pressure the G-20.
The US president will continue his global tour Tuesday at the Group of 20 summit in Indonesia, pushing nations to take a stand against Russia and uphold Ukraine’s sovereignty in both symbolic as well as substantive ways. The endeavor comes at a time when global inflation and decelerating economies have increased pressure on countries that have levied sanctions on Russia for the 9-month war that has resulted in food and energy prices skyrocketing.
In his opening remarks, Indonesian President Joko Widodo emphasized the importance of the summit as the move by Biden to Pressure the G-20 proceeds.
“It will be hard for the world to advance if the war does not end,” Widodo said. “We must not partition the world. We cannot let the world descend into yet another cold war.”
A senior US administration official, on the condition of anonymity to discuss the summit, stated on Tuesday that the summit’s ultimate communique will state unequivocally that “most” countries denounce Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as well as the devastating impact it has had on global food and energy supplies.
It’s unknown how many countries would support the tough language, or even whether the document will indeed refer to Russia’s actions as “war” – a term Moscow has tried to avoid, amidst the heavy losses suffered by its troops.
The president of the EU Council, Charles Michel, has encouraged other world powers, along with Moscow’s most ardent ally, China, to put more pressure on Russia over its war in Ukraine. Michel stated on Tuesday that the summit was critical in putting an end to Moscow’s move to “use energy and food as weapons.”
According to US officials, Biden’s trip illustrated that nations of all sizes are prepared to denounce Russian aggression. Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent his foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, instead. The Indonesian president welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to virtually address the G-20 conference, just days after Ukraine’s foreign minister was invited to attend the ASEAN summit in Cambodia, where Ukraine had become the group’s newest signatory to the amity and cooperation treaty.
Chinese officials have principally abstained from publicly criticizing Russia’s war, though Beijing has excluded direct Russian assistance, such as arms supplies. Biden said he and Chinese President Xi Jinping met Monday and “held our common belief” that the use and even threat of nuclear weapons is “totally unacceptable” – a reference to Moscow’s thinly disguised threats to use nuclear weapons as its conquest of Ukraine has started to decline.
The summit agenda does not feature a “family photo” of leading figures, that would avoid an uncomfortable interaction with Russia’s delegate, Lavrov. It was unclear how Biden and US allies would react if Lavrov was granted access to speak during the summit’s closed sessions. Several Europeans considered potentially boycotting the meeting in protest of Russia’s invasion.
No one in the US delegation planned to meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, also known as MBS, after Biden accused Saudi Arabia of allying with Russia by guiding the OPEC+ cartel to cut production of oil last month in order to preserve the high energy prices that Russia uses to finance its war in Ukraine.
It also remained unclear whether anyone from the US delegation would interface with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi or even other leaders whose participation is required to secure a price cap on Russian oil, which would constrain the earnings Moscow utilizes to invest in its military base.
The summit is the first for two important new partners in Biden’s endeavor: Rishi Sunak and Giorgia Meloni the British Prime Minister and Italian Premier respectively.
Sunak, who assumed office last month following Liz Truss’ miserably brief reign, has pledged to maintain his conservative predecessors’ unwavering support for Ukraine. During their meeting on Wednesday, he and Biden plan to discuss new ways to strengthen Ukraine’s defenses in the long run.
Meloni has promised to keep providing arms as well as aid to Ukraine, but her far-right coalition’s willingness to stand up to Russia remains in doubt. She will interface privately with Biden on Tuesday afternoon.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen will be absent because he tested positive for COVID-19 shortly after arriving in Bali and announced his intention to return home. Thus far, no other leaders have tested positive, despite the fact that many of those in in Bali were also present at meetings with Hun Sen a few days ago at the Association of Southeast Asian countries summit.
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