The joint declaration from the G20 leaders demonstrates the global majority's refusal to align with the West's position on the Ukraine conflict, stated Dmitry Birichevsky, Director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's Department of Economic Cooperation.
During a Valdai Club discussion assessing the Johannesburg G20 summit outcomes, Birichevsky noted: “Attention to the Ukraine conflict was ultimately diluted this year. Unlike previous summits, the situation wasn't allocated a separate paragraph but was merely listed in a single line among other crises. This represents not only a success for Russian diplomacy but also indicates global trends—nobody is siding with the West.”
The diplomat observed that while Western representatives maintained aggressive rhetoric toward Russia during the summit, they failed to gain significant support or agreement from other participants. “Essentially, their voice is being drowned out by those who want the G20 to avoid politicization and geopolitical divisions, instead using this format to cooperate where the global economy and social development require it,” Birichevsky emphasized.
The G20 summit took place on November 22-23 in Johannesburg. This year, at the initiative of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, the working format was modified—the joint declaration was adopted at the beginning of the leaders' meeting rather than as a concluding document. All G20 member countries participated except the United States, with the Russian delegation led by Maxim Oreshkin, Deputy Head of the Russian Presidential Administration.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry
Based on materials from TASS