Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed his commendation for India's approach during the G20 Summit, highlighting India's stance of not allowing the Russia-Ukraine conflict to overshadow the event. During a press conference, Lavrov articulated his views, emphasizing India's role in ensuring that the G20 agenda did not become dominated by the Russia-Ukraine issue.
Furthermore, the Russian Foreign Minister conveyed his gratitude to India for its efforts in preventing any attempts to politicize the G20 Summit, characterizing the overall outcome as a resounding "success."
With regard to the consensus reached on the G20 Leaders' Summit Declaration, Lavrov remarked on the significance of this development, stating, "When they agreed to that, perhaps it was the voice of their conscience. Speaking frankly, we didn't expect that."
He underscored the importance of considering the statements regarding Ukraine and Russia within the broader context of the declaration. Lavrov highlighted that the declaration's primary focus this year centered on the awakening and consolidation of the Global South's commitment to having the G20 work towards its principal objectives.
In discussing the declaration, Lavrov further elaborated, stating, "I believe that the declaration has found a balanced and equitable solution, emphasizing the need to strive for a clear and equitable balance of interests."
"This represents a noble objective, and we are already making progress in this direction. We will continue to reinforce these positive trends, including during Brazil's presidency next year and in 2025 during South Africa's presidency."
Lavrov also noted that during the closing session, Prime Minister Modi announced his intention to convene another G20 Summit via video conferencing in late November. This upcoming gathering will serve as an opportunity to assess the implementation of the agreements reached during the current summit.
In a critical assessment of Western powers, the Russian Foreign Minister remarked, "The West will no longer be able to maintain its hegemonic position, as we observe the emergence of new centers of power around the world."
He added that the West has failed to fulfill its commitment to provide $100 billion annually to support developing nations in addressing climate change.
Responding to a question about the possibility of a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, Sergey Lavrov indicated that Ukrainian officials are currently issuing threats to physically harm Russians. He reiterated that everyone desires peace and mentioned that an agreement to settle the conflict was nearly signed about 18 months ago. However, external factors interfered with the signing of the treaty. Lavrov emphasized that negotiations should account for the current realities on the ground and consider the decades-long accumulation of issues resulting from NATO's aggressive policies. He concluded by highlighting the ongoing threats of violence against Russians made by Ukrainian officials.
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