A senior US official has hailed US President Joe Biden’s efforts to promote peace in the Russia-Ukraine conflict by engaging with countries worldwide, emphasizing the significance of a joint statement issued during the G20 Summit in New Delhi. Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer, speaking aboard Air Force One, stated that this statement builds upon the Bali G20 declaration and United Nations resolutions, conveying a unified message urging Russia to refrain from using force for territorial gains and adhere to the UN Charter.
Finer explained that the Biden administration has been consistently pursuing a strategy focused on nations seeking an end to the conflict and advocating for peace based on the four core principles of the UN Charter. He noted that major economies are united in calling on Russia to respect international law and highlighted the support of countries such as Brazil, India, and South Africa in this endeavor.
President Biden left Delhi for Vietnam after participating in the G20 Summit, where Indian Prime Minister Modi’s message of “today’s era isn’t of war” resonated in the G20 declaration. The New Delhi G20 declaration emphasized that all states, in line with the UN Charter, should refrain from using force or threats of force to acquire territory, ensuring the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and political independence of other states, while also deeming the use or threat of nuclear weapons unacceptable.
Regarding the Ukraine conflict, the declaration reaffirmed the importance of adhering to national positions and resolutions adopted at the UN Security Council and General Assembly, emphasizing compliance with the UN Charter’s principles and purposes. It acknowledged the G20’s role in international economic cooperation while recognizing that the forum may not address geopolitical and security issues directly but should acknowledge their potential impact on the global economy.
G20 members appreciated the efforts of Turkey and the UN-brokered Istanbul Agreements, including initiatives related to Russian food products, fertilizers, and the safe transportation of grain and foodstuffs from Ukrainian ports. These efforts aimed to ensure the timely delivery of essential goods, especially to developing and least developed countries, particularly in Africa.
The declaration expressed concern over the human suffering and negative consequences of the Ukraine conflict on global food and energy security, supply chains, financial stability, inflation, and growth. It emphasized the need for all states to uphold international law principles, including territorial integrity, sovereignty, and international humanitarian law, and advocated for peaceful conflict resolution, diplomacy, and dialogue.
The G20 leaders committed to addressing the adverse effects of the war on the global economy and welcomed constructive initiatives supporting a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in Ukraine that aligns with the UN Charter’s principles. The declaration underscored the importance of fostering peaceful relations among nations in the spirit of “One Earth, One Family, One Future,” while emphasizing that the present era must not be characterized by warfare. The G20 Summit took place in New Delhi and concluded on Sunday.
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