G20 Summit – a failed opportunity to find peace

The Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) expresses its deep disappointment regarding the joint declaration of the G20 leaders issued on Nov. 18, 2024 during their summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

At the meeting, the G20 leaders, including Ukraine’s key allies agreed on a statement that only mentions the “negative additional consequences of the war” and welcomes “initiatives supporting an inclusive, just, and lasting peace.”

For the second consecutive year, the leaders of the G20 have refused to openly condemn the unlawful and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation.

“The adoption of this year’s declaration represents a significant setback in international efforts to support Ukraine in its fight for sovereignty and territorial integrity. The lack of a clear stance on Russian aggression undermines the foundations of international law and encourages further acts of aggression,” stated UWC President Pavlo Grod.

For more than 1,000 days, Russia’s unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine has wreaked havoc, yet the G20 declaration includes only a single, vague reference to the war. It fails to condemn Russia’s nuclear threats, environment devastation, attacks on food and energy infrastructure, war crimes, or the genocidal nature of the conflict. Worse still, it ignores the daily missile strikes that kill and maim Ukrainian civilians, including innocent children. This lack of accountability undermines the urgency of addressing Russia’s ongoing aggression.

“It is deplorable that some G20 countries are calling for peace talks between Ukraine and Russia without prior condemnation of the aggression and the restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity. Alternative “peace plans” that are being promoted by countries who are formally aligned with Russia is ludicrous. More importantly, no country should propose a peace plan without consulting and receiving the endorsement of the victim of the aggression – nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine,” stated Grod.

The UWC calls on G20 leaders to take a principled stance and unreservedly condemn Russia’s aggression. Only by denouncing and holding Russia to account for its illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine can the international community secure a just and lasting peace for Ukraine.