Concerns over Ukraine plan & global economy fractures worries G20 Summit in South Africa – Firstpost

The G20’s role in fixing economic crises is threatened by geopolitical fractures, leaders warned on Saturday at a summit in South Africa, which was boycotted by the United States.

European leaders attending the G20 summit – the first held in Africa – gathered on its sidelines to push back at US President Donald Trump’s unilateral plan aimed at ending the war in Ukraine on terms favorable to Russia.

In a joint statement issued with Canada and Japan, they said Trump’s plan needed “additional work” because it would make Ukraine “insecure.” He said some of its points required “the consent of the EU and NATO members”.

Speaking at the opening of the summit, French President Emmanuel Macron, one of the signatories of the statement, said: “We are around this table struggling to solve big crises together.”

He warned that, given the cracks in international cooperation, “the G20 may be at the end of a cycle”.

“No doubt, the road ahead is difficult,” agreed British Prime Minister Keir Starmer – who also signed the statement – ​​adding: “We need to find ways to again play a constructive role in the face of global challenges today.”

Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang said, “unilateralism and protectionism are rampant” and “many people are wondering what is really happening to global solidarity.”

But the summit host, President Cyril Ramaphosa, argued that the G20 remains important for international cooperation.

Ramaphosa said, “The G20 underlines the value of the relevance of multilateralism. It recognizes that the challenges we face can only be solved through cooperation, collaboration and partnerships.”

concern for ukraine

The G20 includes 19 countries, as well as the European Union and the African Union, and accounts for 85 percent of the world’s GDP and two-thirds of its population.

The Johannesburg summit was undermined by the US boycott, and China’s Li stood in for absent President Xi Jinping, while Russia sent Maxim Oreshkin, a Kremlin official wanted under an International Criminal Court warrant, instead of President Vladimir Putin.

The leaders present adopted a summit declaration covering climate, energy, debt sustainability and a critical-mineral agreement – ​​as well as a joint call for a “just” peace in Ukraine, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan and the “occupied Palestinian territories”.

After the inauguration ceremony, Starmer, Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived at a meeting to discuss Trump’s plan for Ukraine, joined soon after by other leaders from Europe, Australia, Canada and Japan.

All but Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese later issued a statement saying that the “draft” US plan had some “key elements” but “additional work will be required”.

“The borders should not be changed by force,” he said, adding: “They were also concerned by the proposed limitations on the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which would leave Ukraine vulnerable to future attack”.

sought ‘progress’

European Council President Antonio Costa told X that leaders of all 27 EU countries will hold a follow-up meeting on Monday on the sidelines of the EU-African Union summit in Angola.

Both Starmer and Macron said security officials from Britain, France and Germany were to meet with American and Ukrainian counterparts in Switzerland on Sunday to learn about “progress” on the US plan.

Speaking to reporters, Macron said a “coalition of the willing” of about 30 countries supporting Ukraine would hold a video call on Tuesday to coordinate and “take new initiatives.”

Trump has said he wants Kiev to accept his 28-point proposals by Thursday – including ceding territory to Russia and cutting the size of Ukraine’s military.

The United States said it did not attend the Johannesburg summit because it feels its priorities conflict with its policies, including trade and climate.

But he said he would send the US charge d’affaires to its embassy in South Africa on Sunday to accept the responsibility of the next G20 presidency.

Trump has said that he intends to hold the 2026 summit at a Florida golf club that he owns.