Hotair
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stormed out of the first meeting of the G20 countries in Bali rather than continue to face a barrage of criticism over Russia’s war in Ukraine. He did so as German counterpart Annalena Baerbock criticized Moscow over its invasion. She criticized Russia for blocking dialogue with international partners. Lavrov didn’t bother to attend the second meeting of the day.
Speaking to German television from the G20 gathering in Bali, Baerbock said Lavrov ‘left the first session halfway through’ and skipped a second session ‘which shows even more clearly that he’s not interested in international cooperation or dialogue with the other G19 partners’.
Lavrov later also ditched an afternoon session before a virtual appearance by Ukraine’s foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba and was not present as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned Russia in the closed-door meeting in Bali, diplomats said.
‘It underscores that the Russian government is not showing a millimetre of willingness to talk, particularly on the important question of how we will grapple with the global food crisis,’ she said.
Baerbock said although the remaining 19 countries had differing views on ‘Russia’s war of aggression’, they were ‘very clear in appealing to Russia that this war must end’.
‘The majority of the countries made clear that Russia has the responsibility to immediately stop the bombing,’ she said.
Lavrov ironically proved her point. He left the room rather than engage in dialogue, even if it included criticism of Putin’s war in Ukraine. What did Lavrov expect would happen at the G20? Did he expect everything to be like a normal meeting with lots of back slapping and glad handing over cocktails and nice dinners? Lavrov’s boss invaded Ukraine and the members of the G20 are insisting that Lavrov hear their message – stop the bombing in Ukraine…
