G20 Leaders have come under fire for what some have called a “soft stance” on the Ukraine war.
The bloc’s failure to address the Ukraine conflict has been called a diplomatic failure. It’s seemingly abandoned its resolution made a year ago in Bali, condemning Russia’s aggression in Ukraine “in the strongest terms” and demanding its unconditional withdrawal.
India’s external affairs minister, S Jaishankar, dismissed critics saying. “Bali was Bali. New Delhi is Delhi. Bali was a year ago; the situation was different. Many things have happened since then,”
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was absent from the summit, while Russia was invited.
The Ukraine conflict that erupted in 2014 has claimed thousands of lives and displaced countless people. It has been a major destabilising factor in Eastern Europe, straining international relations and causing humanitarian suffering.
Despite the size and reach of this crisis, the G20 has failed to play a significant role in resolving it.
Read the complete: G20 Bali leaders’ declaration
G20 Maintaining diplomatic ambiguity
One of the critical reasons for this failure is the lack of consensus among G20 members. Several member countries have interests in the region, either supporting Ukraine or Russia.
This has resulted in a diplomatic standoff, preventing the group from uniting on the issue. As a result, the G20 has been unable to exert meaningful pressure on the parties involved to seek a peaceful resolution.
Moreover, The G20’s focus has, up to now, been financial stability and economic growth. While these issues are undoubtedly important, they shouldn’t overshadow conflict resolution and peace in Ukraine.
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The G20’s failure to prioritise the Ukraine conflict has sent a message that political and humanitarian crises can be overlooked in favour of economic concerns.
Furthermore, the G20’s inability to address the Ukraine conflict undermines its credibility as a forum for global governance. It raises questions about the group’s effectiveness in handling pressing international issues and its commitment to upholding peace and security.
It’s unclear whether the G20 will reevaluate its priorities and take a more active role in resolving conflicts to fulfill its mission of promoting global stability and cooperation.
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