The G20 summit adopted a final declaration without a condemnation of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

The G20 participants called on all countries to adhere to the principles of international law, including territorial integrity, sovereignty, international humanitarian law, and the multilateral system that guarantees peace and stability.

The G20 leaders did not condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine because of Moscow and Beijing’s respective positions. Instead, they called on both sides of the war to adhere to UN principles.

In the final version, Russia is not mentioned in the paragraph concerning the war in Ukraine. The text also uses streamlined wording, which, according to critics, Moscow may use in the future to justify keeping its occupied Ukrainian territory.

The Ukraine Ministry of Foreign Affairs representative, Oleg Nikolenko, commented on the G20 declaration: “In the part that concerns Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the G20 has nothing to be proud of. Obviously, the participation of the Ukrainian side would allow the participants to understand the situation better. The principle of “nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine” remains as key as ever”.