Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula disrupts discussion on Russian war in Ukraine at G20 Summit: Macron and Scholz express disappointment
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva released the final G20 communiqué a day earlier than planned to shorten discussions on the war in Ukraine, sparking discontent among European delegates, according to Reuters.
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at G20Typically, the communiqué is issued at the end of the summit. However, Lula approved the text during the conclusion of Monday’s plenary session, the summit’s first day. At the time, the leaders of France, Germany, and the United States were absent from the hall, diplomats told the news agency.
Following this, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed regret that the G20 communiqué did not emphasise Russia’s responsibility for initiating the war in Ukraine.
“It is insufficient when the G20 cannot find the words to make it clear that Russia bears responsibility,” he said at the end of the two-day summit of the world’s largest economies in Rio de Janeiro.
“The communiqué was finalized by President Lula. The document does not reflect the stance we could have taken,” French President Emmanuel Macron told journalists.
He argued that the text should have been clearer on the war. Nevertheless, this does not alter France’s position: it is an aggressive war launched by Russia against Ukraine, and the country’s priority remains achieving lasting peace, Macron added.
Discussions on Russia’s war against Ukraine have been contentious at G20 meetings since the full-scale invasion began. This time, Russian ruler Vladimir Putin was absent from the summit in Rio de Janeiro, with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov representing the country.
Brazil expedited the approval of the communiqué on Monday, November 18, in the evening to avoid the risk of the summit ending without a final declaration. However, European representatives had called for stronger language on Russia’s role in the war, three Brazilian diplomats told Reuters.
According to Reuters, the summit participants had allegedly reached an agreement on the final statement on Sunday after intensive negotiations. However, later that day, France and Germany pressured Brazil to reopen the text for revisions following Russia’s massive airstrikes on Ukraine. Brazil declined.
French diplomats could have requested a delay in approving the text on Monday but chose not to. A Brazilian official explained to Reuters that “reopening the text would have jeopardized an entire week’s negotiation efforts.”
In the meantime, Scholz commented on the situation, emphasizing that disagreements over the communiqué’s text highlight the impact of geopolitical tensions on the G20.
“The winds in international relations are becoming increasingly harsh,” he said.
Earlier, ZMINA reported that last year, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva initially stated that Russian ruler Putin would not be arrested during the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro. However, he later reversed his position, saying the decision would rest with the country’s judiciary.
It is worth recalling that after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin over the deportation of Ukrainian children, his travel options have become limited. For example, earlier this year, he planned to attend the BRICS summit in South Africa but ultimately did not travel due to the risk of arrest.
Ukraine urges the international community to unite in restoring global security under the UN Charter and strengthen sanctions against Russia to enforce compliance with international law. Following Russia’s initial invasion in 2014, Ukraine has pursued the liberation of its territories within its internationally recognized 1991 borders, while developing comprehensive reintegration strategies and policies for all liberated areas.
