Russia will block the final declaration of this month’s G20 summit unless it reflects Moscow’s position on Ukraine and other crises, forcing participants to issue a non-binding or partial communique, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday. The icy warning came just days before the Sept. 9-10 meeting of the Group of 20 leading industrialized and developing countries in New Delhi.
Lavrov made the threat while addressing students at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, adding that the West is undermining global institutions by pushing its agenda. He said that if consensus is not possible at the summit, a non-binding communique could be issued through the G20 presidency, or a document focusing on specific decisions within the scope of the Group’s competencies could be adopted.
The G20 statement will likely reflect the consensus of many members on Ukraine, blaming Russia’s aggression for imposing “immense damage and suffering to the people of Ukraine.” But it may not mention a critical Russian demand that its forces pull back to their bases in eastern Ukraine. The declaration will also likely reference a devastating earthquake in Turkey, the need for debt relief in low- and middle-income countries, the role of global tax policy, and food insecurity, among other issues.
It is rare that the world’s top economic powers can agree on an anti-corruption measure, even one as crucial as a new standard of transparency for the offshore accounts used by wealthy individuals to conceal their assets. In the wake of Russia’s war in Ukraine, advanced Western economies have accelerated anti-money laundering reforms to prevent their economies from becoming transit or destination countries for corrupt, dirty money flows. But the progress has not yet spread to most G20 economies, despite widespread anger over Putin’s actions in Ukraine.
Nevertheless, there are signs of progress, particularly in the finance sector. Earlier this year, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) – an inter-governmental body that sets the standards for the fight against terrorism and organized crime using the financial system – barred Russian delegates from participating in meetings and project teams as part of an effort to curb Russian influence.
In other efforts to isolate Russia, G7 nations have intensified their cooperation in sharing intelligence on the flow of illicit funds, and the United States has begun to impose sanctions against key Russian officials. However, it is unclear whether those moves will be enough to deter Putin from pursuing his annexation of Ukraine and further expansion into the West.
The US-led sanctions have prompted some nations to reconsider their trade with Russia, while others are looking for ways to rebalance their relationship. But the conflict is unlikely to be resolved shortly, especially as it threatens to erode the global economy further and exacerbate food and energy prices. This will make it harder for a handful of Western leaders to convince the rest of the G20 to tighten the squeeze on Russia further.
