Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent appeal regarding the Ukraine conflict that “today’s era must not be of war” resonated in the joint declaration or communiqué issued after the G-20 summit on Wednesday.
World leaders, including the Indian Prime Minister, also called for an immediate end to the ongoing war and favoured dialogue and diplomacy to resolve all issues. The communiqué was issued after the two-day summit in Bali, Indonesia. The conclave discussed the Russian military action in Ukraine and its adverse impact on fuel, food and fertilisers supply chains.
India played a key role in the successful negotiations of the outcome document, said Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra, adding India’s approach was very “constructive, cooperative, and in that consensus building”, across the whole range of issues, which were negotiated in the outcome document.
“Naturally, the outcome document was being negotiated in a particular global context and that global context did find mention in the outcome document also during negotiations, and there I would say the Prime Minister’s message that this is not the era of war, and the best way to return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy, to resolve the conflict resonated very deeply across all the delegations and helped bridge the gap across different parties and contributed to the successful outcome of the document.”
In a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in September on the sidelines of the SCO in Uzbekistan, Modi had given a message to him that “today’s era is not of war.”
The communiqué said, “The peaceful resolution of conflicts, efforts to address crises, as well as diplomacy and dialogue, are vital. Today’s era must not be of war.”
India played a key and critical role in bringing consensus among all countries on the communique, people familiar with the matter said.
India worked in partnership with all developing countries and emerging markets to draft the final statement and the preamble to the statement, officials said. India emerged as a leader, solution provider and consensus builder through its positive and constructive approach, they added.
“It is essential to uphold international law and the multilateral system that safeguards peace and stability. This includes defending all the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and adhering to international humanitarian law,” the G-20 communique said.
It said the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is inadmissible, in an apparent reference to Moscow’s reported indication that it could use the nuclear option.
“The meeting was held under challenging circumstances, as the war in Ukraine continues and its impacts are felt by countries beyond Europe. Members expressed deep concerns about the humanitarian crisis, economic and financial impacts of the war, and called for an end to the war as soon as possible,” the communique said.
It said many member countries condemned the war as unprovoked and unjustifiable, and a violation of international law.
“Few members expressed that G20 should be faithful to its own mandate and ensure the discussions focus on economic impacts and take a comprehensive and balanced approach. Some members expressed concerns about the economic consequences of sanctions,” it added.
Since the Ukraine conflict began in February, Modi spoke to Putin as well as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a number of times. In a phone conversation with Zelenskyy on October 4, Modi said there can be “no military solution” and that India is ready to contribute to any peace efforts.
