G-20 Approves Communique After Compromise on War Language

Thank you for joining us. Here are the key takeaways from the first day of the Group of 20 Leaders’ Summit.

• G-20 leaders agreed in a joint statement that they support “a comprehensive, just, and durable peace in Ukraine” after resolving final differences over references to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It reflected a compromise between the US and its allies, which had sought tougher language to denounce Russia, and Moscow. Ukraine isn’t satisfied with the compromise language
• This year’s text version of the communique includes language on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that is broadly similar to that in last year’s and would allow both sides to claim a diplomatic victory. It also allowed host India to claim a diplomatic success from the meeting. While Germany’s Olaf Scholz called the summit “very successful,” UK’s Rishi Sunak said the group agreed to a “very strong” joint message
• US President Joe Biden said the meeting was going well and that it would have been nice to have China’s Xi Jinping, who skipped the summit. The US signed an agreement with India, Middle Eastern countries and the European Union aimed at connecting them via a network of railways and sea routes. That rivals the Belt and Road Initiative spearhead by Xi. Biden said this is a “real big deal”
• Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged several G-20 leaders to meet some of Russia’s demands to revive a deal allowing Ukrainian grain shipments, people familiar said. Brazil’s Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva asked rich nations to provide developing countries $100 billion a year to fight climate change
• The G-20 also agreed to let the African Union joinas a member, letting the 55-member group get the same status as the EU. The summit represents an important moment for India, whose fast-growing economy is attracting more attention as China’s expansion slows. It’s also shining a spotlight on Modi ahead of elections next year