European Diplomats Urge Revisions to G20 Statement After Russian Air Strike
UN Secretary-General Stresses Need for Just Peace in Ukraine, Climate Finance Disagreements Persist
By Lisandra Paraguassu and Elizabeth Pineau
RIO DE JANEIRO – A Russian air strike on Ukraine on Sunday has rattled the fragile consensus that G20 negotiators had reached ahead of the summit in Rio de Janeiro. Diplomatic sources revealed to Reuters that European diplomats are now pushing to revisit the language on global conflicts in the group’s joint statement after Russia launched its most significant airstrike on Ukraine in nearly three months. In response, the United States lifted restrictions on Ukraine’s use of U.S.-made weapons to target deeper into Russian territory.
The airstrike threatens to undermine a hard-fought consensus that had been reached in the early hours of Sunday morning following six days of intense negotiations. The preliminary agreement, which was aimed at framing a final joint statement for the summit, included language about global conflicts, notably the war in Ukraine, emphasizing the importance of pursuing peace talks rather than assigning blame.
However, sources indicated that the consensus might now need revision in light of the Russian airstrike and the potential for further escalation.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres voiced his continued support for efforts aimed at achieving a “just peace” in Ukraine. At a press conference, he stressed the importance of preventing further escalation in the conflict, saying, “Our position has been very clear in relation to avoiding a permanent escalation in the war in Ukraine.”
French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking from Buenos Aires before traveling to Brazil, reaffirmed France’s support for Ukraine, emphasizing the need for Ukraine to resist the ongoing attacks. “With what is happening today, we must first equip and allow Ukraine to resist. This is the key to the coming days and weeks,” Macron said.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, also reiterated European support, saying, “We will stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes,” during an interview with Globo TV in Rio.
While the Russian airstrike shook the negotiations on global conflicts, the more contentious issue among G20 leaders has been climate finance. Wealthy nations, particularly in Europe, have advocated for major polluters, including China and oil-rich Middle Eastern countries, to make binding contributions to climate finance. This push has created tension with developing nations, who have resisted mandatory climate finance targets.
By Sunday, negotiators reached a compromise, agreeing to language that highlights the voluntary contributions of developing nations to climate finance, without imposing binding obligations on them.
