Contrary to what was announced, Antony Blinken and Sergei Lavrov held a face-to-face this Thursday morning in New Delhi, although this was reduced to a ten-minute aside, within the framework of the meeting of G-Foreign Ministers. twenty. Where there are no surprises is in the confirmation of the deep divergences between their countries, the US and Russia, about the war in Ukraine. Something that will prevent agreeing on a joint statement at the closing of the event.
Unlike what happens in the G-7, in the G-20 different readings of the conflict and those responsible coexist. Hence, the host, Narendra Modi, has lamented the new division of the world into blocks in his speech by videoconference. The Indian prime minister has also met with his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni, determined to relaunch her arms industry in the first visit by an Italian head of government to New Delhi in five years.
The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, has called for “Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukraine” and has lamented that its invasion “will again spoil the G-20 meetings”, as happened last year past in indonesia According to what he has learned, his aside with Sergue Lavrov would have given to put three things on the table: Washington’s permanent commitment to the Kyik government, the demand for a return to the New Start nuclear non-proliferation treaty and the case of an American prisoner. in Russia.
For his part, his Russian counterpart – with whom he had not spoken in person since before the invasion of Ukraine, calls aside – has accused the West of “burying the grain agreement”, which allows the export of Ukrainian grain and that it expires. in fifteen days.
According to Lavrov, this will not continue unless the “logistical and payment” constraints that, according to him, limit the export of Russian grain are resolved. Lavrov has joined forces with China’s new foreign minister, Qing Gang, to denounce what they call “blackmail and threats from Western countries.” Although Beijing has promised to play “a constructive role” in the conflict between the Russians and the Ukrainians.
On the other hand, the need to ensure food and energy security is the most prominent request from the emerging countries within the G-20, such as South Africa, Brazil, Mexico and Argentina. Spain, as a permanent guest of the G-20, is represented by the Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares, while the EU is represented by Josep Borrell.
