Addressing G20 leaders for the first time since the start of the war, the Kremlin chief said some leaders had said in their speeches that they were shocked by the ongoing “aggression” of Russia in Ukraine.
We must think how to stop ‘the tragedy’ of war in Ukraine, Russia’s Putin tells G20
- Addressing G20 leaders for the first time since the start of the war, the Russian president said Moscow had never refused peace talks with Kyiv
- The remark is one of Putin’s most dovish on the conflict for months
Putin’s decision to send troops into Ukraine in February 2022 triggered Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II and the gravest confrontation between Russia and the West since the depths of the Cold War.
Addressing G20 leaders for the first time since the start of the war, the Kremlin chief said some leaders had said in their speeches that they were shocked by the ongoing “aggression” of Russia in Ukraine.
“Yes, of course, military actions are always a tragedy,” Putin told the virtual G20 meeting called by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“And of course, we should think about how to stop this tragedy,” Putin said. “By the way, Russia has never refused peace talks with Ukraine. . .
Putin makes appearance as India hosts virtual G20 summit
Xi skips discussion on development issues, Middle East crisis
NEW DELHI -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted a "rare" online Group of 20 summit on Wednesday during which he emphasized the need to ensure that the Israel-Hamas war does not escalate into a regional conflict, as his country's presidency of the grouping draws to a close.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who had skipped the in-person G20 summit in New Delhi in September, attended the virtual conference. It came a day after a special online meeting of the BRICS group -- Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa -- to discuss the crisis in the Middle East.
In his first address to the G20 leaders since the start of the Russian war in Ukraine in February last year, Putin said that Moscow has never rejected peace talks with Kyiv and added that "military actions are always a tragedy."
"Of course, we must think about how to stop this tragedy," he told the online summit, according to Russia's state-owned Sputnik news agency. "In fact, Russia has never refused peace talks with Ukraine," he added.
Modi, in his opening remarks in Hindi at the virtual summit, said, "New challenges have emerged in the past few months. Insecurity and instability in [the Middle East] is a matter of concern for all of us." He added later, "It is also important to make sure that the Israel-Hamas war doesn't take a regional shape of any kind."
Welcoming Wednesday's news of the release of hostages, Modi said he hoped they would all be freed soon. "It is important that humanitarian assistance reach [the region] timely and continuously."
In his closing statement, Modi said that after hearing views of all participants on the serious situation in the Middle East, he could say that there was consensus within the G20 on many issues.
"We all strongly condemn terrorism and violence; there is zero tolerance to terrorism," he said, adding that killings of innocent people, especially women and children, was unacceptable, and that a permanent resolution was necessary for the Israel-Palestine issue through a two-state solution.
"Restoration of regional peace and stability is essential," he added, asserting that diplomacy and dialogue were the only way to resolve geopolitical tensions. "The G20 is ready to extend all possible cooperation in this regard."
A Group of 20 sign in New Delhi: A couple of months after hosting leaders in person, India organized a follow-up summit online. © ReutersAfter the virtual summit ended, India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar told reporters that all 21 members of the grouping participated, including the African Union. Nine guest countries and 11 international organizations also took part.
"The discussions were fruitful [and] very productive," he said, adding that overall, there was a strong sentiment expressed by the leaders to ensure the implementation of commitments that were agreed to during the New Delhi summit in September.
Chinese President Xi Jinping did not attend the virtual conference. He also skipped the New Delhi meeting. Chinese Premier Li Qiang represented Beijing at both summits.
"In the face of the volatile international situation and sluggish economic recovery, it is all the more important for the G20 to reinforce partnership, address global challenges through cooperation and make [a] positive contribution to world economic recovery and global common development," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters on Tuesday. "China hopes that the virtual summit can pool consensus and send [a] positive signal to this end."
The main agenda of Wednesday's virtual summit was to be development-related issues, but leaders were free to discuss other topics. The government's G20 sherpa Amitabh Kant told reporters on Tuesday the talks would be an opportunity to discuss implementation of the leaders' declaration issued in September, as well as to share views and enhance cooperation on critical challenges toward a "reinvigorated multilateral system."
This caps a busy year for Modi, who also hosted two online Voice of Global South summits -- the inaugural one in January and another this month.
On Wednesday, he said the concerns of the Global South should be given top priority. "It is the need of the hour that we extend our full support to the development agenda. Global economy and governance structure need to be reformed for making them bigger, better, effective, representative and future-ready."
India's G20 presidency ends on Nov. 30, after which Brazil will take over. Throughout its year at the helm, "India has worked to ensure that the concerns of Global South receive due cognizance," Kant said, referring to a loosely defined set of developing countries that often feel neglected in international forums.
Indian leaders tried to cement the country's legacy as G20 host. Kant said of Wednesday's virtual meeting, "This is something very rare and rather exceptional. No other presidency has had a physical meeting of all the leaders and then a virtual meeting."
On Wednesday, Modi pointed to the inclusion of the African Union as a permanent member of the G20 under the Indian presidency as a source of pride for New Delhi.
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