Despite the divisions between the countries in the face of the invasion of Ukraine, pressure increased on Russia this Tuesday, November 15 at the summit of the major economies of the G20 so that Moscow ends a war at considerable cost. The most important gathering of world leaders since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic opened without Vladimir Putin in the Indonesian island of Bali.
It takes place nearly nine months after the start of a deadly war that sent energy and food prices skyrocketing and saw the re-emergence of the nuclear threat. The invasion of Ukraine is not on the official G20 agenda but dominates the meeting and exposes the divisions between Westerners supporting kyiv and other countries, China in the lead, who refuse to condemn Moscow. However, the 20 members of this club originally created to manage economic issues have agreed on a draft press release consulted by AFP, although deemed unlikely in recent days because of the fault lines but also the necessary agreement from Moscow.
- Zelensky at G20: ‘It’s time’ to end Russia’s ‘destructive’ war
Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday that “it is time” to end Russia’s “destructive” war, in a video link address to the G20 heads of state and government gathered in Bali. “I am convinced that now is the time, that Russia’s destructive war must and can be stopped,” said the Ukrainian president, according to an English translation of the speech seen by AFP, proposing a full exchange of prisoners between Russia and Ukraine.
The Ukrainian president also denounced this Tuesday before the G20 “the crazy threats of recourse to nuclear weapons” of Russia, affirming that there could be “no excuse for nuclear blackmail”. “It’s the same with the crazy threats of nuclear weapons expressed by Russian officials. There can be no excuse for nuclear blackmail,” he said, according to the English translation of his speech. where he addresses the “G19”, excluding Moscow. In the room, however, was present the head of Russian diplomacy Sergei Lavrov, by whom Vladimir Putin was represented.
- G20: draft communiqué recognizes effects of “war in Ukraine”
The major G20 economies, including Moscow, note the negative repercussions of Russia’s “war in Ukraine” in a draft final statement seen by AFP on Tuesday, which states that “most members” “strongly condemn ” the dispute. This document, if adopted by the leaders, would use the term “war” rejected for the moment by Moscow, which evokes a “special military operation”. He considers the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons “inadmissible” and calls for the extension of the agreement on grain exports.
Just before, by videoconference, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had pleaded before the G20 for an “infinite” extension of the agreement allowing the export of Ukrainian cereals, which expires on Friday November 18. “Our grain export initiative deserves to be extended indefinitely, no matter when the war ends,” he said. He also proposed that the agreement negotiated in July under the aegis of Turkey, which made it possible to deliver some 10 million tons of cereals, be extended to two other Ukrainian ports.
- Macron asked Xi to intervene with Putin
French President Emmanuel Macron for his part asked Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Tuesday to intervene with their Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in order to convince him to stop the “escalation” in Ukraine and return to the “negotiating table”. “, said the Elysée. “The President of the Republic asks that China contribute to sending messages to President Putin in order to avoid escalation and to return seriously to the negotiating table”, indicated the French presidency.
Xi Jinping for his part “provided his support for European mediation efforts”, in particular of the French president, and “very firmly reiterated his opposition to the use of atomic weapons” by the Russians in Ukraine, according to the Elysée. “He also reaffirmed his support for de-escalation, a ceasefire and the will to put an end to this conflict,” added the presidency. According to Paris, “the lines are starting to move” on the Chinese side, Beijing “is trying to find a situation of balance” on the conflict in Ukraine. “Xi Jinping makes it clear that this complex situation must be dealt with urgently,” noted an adviser to the French president.
- kyiv claims Russia destroyed key power station in Kherson before withdrawal
Ukrainian national operator Ukrenergo claimed on Monday (November 14th) that Russia destroyed a key power station in Kherson before the withdrawal of its troops from the city and the right bank of the Dnieper River in southern Ukraine last week. .
“The power station that supplied electricity for the entire right bank in the Kherson region and a significant part of the Mykolaiv region is practically destroyed,” Ukrenergo chairman Volodymyr Kudrytsky wrote on Facebook, adding that It was one of the “consequences of the helpless fear of the occupants before their flight”.
“Most of the liberated region of Kherson has been without electricity since November 6,” Volodymyr Kudrytsky continued. “We are doing our best to supply people with electricity as soon as possible,” he wrote again. Ukraine “has forwarded the list of equipment that the Kherson region needs to our international partners”, he said, adding that “Poland and France have already responded”. Kherson had been the first major city and the only regional center to fall after the Russian invasion.
- Canada doubles military aid to Ukraine
The Canadian government announced on Monday that it would double military aid to Ukraine, which now passes the threshold of one billion Canadian dollars (729 million euros). “This additional military aid will support Ukrainians as they continue their courageous fight against President Putin’s illegal invasion, and these new sanctions will put additional pressure on those who support these acts of war,” the Prime Minister said. Canadian Minister Justin Trudeau, in a press release.
Volodymyr Zelensky thanked his counterpart for this new installment of funds. “This proves once again that Ukraine and Canada are true allies who share common values and have the same goals,” he said on Twitter. “Together we will win!” he also said.
This new funding aims to “help the Ukrainian armed forces defend their country against the brutal and unjustifiable invasion of Russia”. The funds will be used to finance military, surveillance and communication equipment, but also fuel and medical equipment. Less than two months after the start of the war, the Canadian government had released an initial envelope of $500 million for military aid.