German Chancellor Olaf Scholz criticized the G20 communiqué for failing to hold Russia accountable for the Ukraine conflict on its 1000th day. Despite the absence of President Putin, discussions remained contentious, with Brazil’s President Lula finalizing the communiqué without key leaders from France, Germany, or the U.S. French President Macron expressed disappointment over the lack of direct language regarding Russia’s aggression, while Scholz noted the growing geopolitical tensions impacting the G20.
Scholz Criticizes G20 Communiqué Over Russia’s Role in Ukraine War
On Tuesday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed disappointment regarding the G20 communiqué, which he felt failed to adequately address Russia’s accountability for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, particularly on the significant milestone of the war’s 1000th day. “It is insufficient that the G20 does not articulate clearly that Russia is to blame,” he remarked following the conclusion of the two-day summit held in Rio de Janeiro, which brought together the world’s major economies.
Contentious Discussions at the G20 Summit
The issue of Ukraine has consistently been a point of contention during G20 meetings, especially since Russia and its allies participate in the discussions. Although Russian President Vladimir Putin was absent from the Rio summit, he was represented by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Typically, the communiqué is released after the summit, but Brazilian President Lula chose to finalize the text at the close of the plenary session on Monday, a decision made without the presence of leaders from France, Germany, or the United States, according to diplomatic sources.
French President Emmanuel Macron commented on the situation, stating, “The communiqué was concluded by President Lula. It does not reflect the position we could have held,” emphasizing that the document could have been more direct regarding the war. He reiterated France’s stance, describing the conflict as a war of aggression initiated by Russia against Ukraine, with the priority being to secure a lasting peace.
A European official characterized Lula’s decision as “brutal,” yet acknowledged the right of the summit host to determine the timing of the statement’s release. Brazil expedited the approval process to ensure a final communiqué was produced, despite pressure from European nations for stronger language regarding Russia’s involvement, as conveyed by three Brazilian diplomats to Reuters.
The Brazilian foreign ministry has not yet responded to requests for comments. Earlier that Sunday, the sherpas had reached a consensus on the final statement after extensive negotiations, but as the day progressed, France and Germany began urging Brazil to revisit the text due to significant Russian airstrikes on Ukraine. However, Brazil declined this request. French diplomats had suggested delaying the text’s approval until Macron could be present, but this did not occur, much to the relief of Brazilian officials. “Reopening the text would have jeopardized the entire week’s negotiation effort,” a Brazilian official informed Reuters.
Chancellor Scholz interpreted the discord over the G20 communiqué as indicative of a transformative period in global affairs. “It is increasingly evident that geopolitical tensions are affecting the G20,” he stated. “The winds of international relations are becoming more turbulent.”