With 100% consensus, G20 joint declaration calls for peace in Ukraine

New Delhi: Under India’s presidency, the G20 Summit released a joint declaration on Saturday which called for peace in Ukraine, finally putting an end to speculations that the summit might end without a declaration. The G20 joint declaration reiterated the statement made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the BRICS Summit recently: “Today’s era must not be of war.” Sharing the digital copy of the declaration on X, formerly known as Twitter, Modi said, “History has been created with the adoption of the New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration. United in consensus and spirit, we pledge to work collaboratively for a better, more prosperous, and harmonious future. My gratitude to all fellow G20 members for their support and cooperation.”

The joint declaration released at the end of Day 1 of the G20 Summit said, “Concerning the war in Ukraine, while recalling the discussion in Bali, we reiterated our national positions and resolutions adopted at the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly and underscored that all states must act in a manner consistent with the Purposes and Principles of the UN Charter in its entirety. In line with the UN Charter, all states must refrain from the threat or use of force to seek territorial acquisition against the territorial integrity and sovereignty or political independence of any state. The use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is inadmissible.” While reaffirming that the G20 is the premier forum for international economic cooperation and recognising that while the G20 is not the platform to resolve geopolitical and security issues, the G20 nations acknowledged that these issues can have significant consequences for the global economy.

Emerging economies played key role in driving consensus on Russia-Ukraine conflict

Addressing the press on Saturday, G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant said that the emerging economies played a key role in driving consensus on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. “On the Russia-Ukraine crisis, India worked very closely with Brazil, South Africa and Indonesia. And I want to say that it was India along with the emerging markets which played a very key role in working out a consensus on an issue that the world has been evading a consensus on for a very long time,” Kant told the press. This is the first time that the G20 has been able to call for an end to the Russia-Ukraine war unanimously.

G20 seeks revival of Black Sea grain deal

The leaders also stressed on the need to revive the Black Sea grain deal to ensure smooth supply of food grains from prominent ports in Russia and Ukraine, particularly to developing countries in Africa. “We appreciate the efforts of Türkiye and UN-brokered Istanbul Agreements consisting of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Russian Federation and the Secretariat of the United Nations on Promoting Russian Food Products and Fertilizers to the World Markets and the Initiative on the Safe Transportation of Grain and Foodstuffs from Ukrainian Ports (Black Sea Initiative), and call for their full, timely and effective implementation to ensure the immediate and unimpeded deliveries of grain, foodstuffs, and fertilizers/inputs from the Russian Federation and Ukraine. This is necessary to meet the demand in developing and least developed countries, particularly those in Africa,” said the joint declaration.

“In this context, emphasizing the importance of sustaining food and energy security, we called for the cessation of military destruction or other attacks on relevant infrastructure. We also expressed deep concern about the adverse impact that conflicts have on the security of civilians thereby exacerbating existing socio-economic fragilities and vulnerabilities and hindering an effective humanitarian response,” said the statement.

“We call on all states to uphold the principles of international law including territorial integrity and sovereignty, international humanitarian law, and the multilateral system that safeguards peace and stability. The peaceful resolution of conflicts, and efforts to address crises as well as diplomacy and dialogue are critical,” said the joint statement.

(PSU Watch– India's Business News centre that places the spotlight on PSUs, Bureaucracy, Defence and Public Policy is now on Google News. Click here to follow. Also, join PSU Watch Channel in your Telegram. You may also follow us on Twitter here and stay updated.)