G20 leaders highlight economic impact of Ukraine conflict, call for peace

The G20 New Delhi Leaders Declaration has made an unambiguous statement that today’s era must not be of war, and the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is inadmissible. 

It acknowledged that though G20 is not the platform to resolve geopolitical and security issues, such issues matter to the premier forum for international economic cooperation as it can have significant consequences for the global economy. 

On the Russia-Ukraine war, the New Delhi Leaders Declaration says that it reiterates the national positions (of member countries) and resolutions adopted at the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly and underscores that all states must act in a manner consistent with the “Purposes and Principles of the UN Charter” in its entirety. “In line with the UN Charter, all states must refrain from the threat or use of force to seek territorial acquisition against the territorial integrity and sovereignty or political independence of any state”, it says.  

The unanimously approved New Delhi Declaration says the leaders highlight the “human suffering and negative added impacts” of the war in Ukraine with regard to global food and energy security, supply chains, macro-financial stability, inflation, and growth, which has complicated the policy environment for countries, especially developing and least developed countries, which are still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic disruption, which has derailed progress towards the SDGs. It also acknowledges that there were different views and assessments of the situation.  

The consensus document also appreciates the efforts of Türkiye and UN-brokered Istanbul Agreements consisting of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Russian Federation and the Secretariat of the United Nations on Promoting Russian Food Products and Fertilisers to the World Markets and the Initiative on the Safe Transportation of Grain and Foodstuffs from Ukrainian Ports (Black Sea Initiative) and called for their full, timely and effective implementation to ensure the immediate and unimpeded deliveries of grain, foodstuffs, and fertilisers/inputs from the Russian Federation and Ukraine. “This is necessary to meet the demand in developing and least developed countries, particularly those in Africa,” it says, adding that in this context, emphasising the importance of sustaining food and energy security, the G20 leaders are calling for the cessation of military destruction or other attacks on relevant infrastructure. 

Expressing deep concern about the adverse impact that conflicts have on the security of civilians, the leaders calls on all states to uphold the principles of international law. “The peaceful resolution of conflicts, and efforts to address crises as well as diplomacy and dialogue are critical. We will unite in our endeavour to address the adverse impact of the war on the global economy and welcome all relevant and constructive initiatives that support a comprehensive, just, and durable peace in Ukraine that will uphold all the Purposes and Principles of the UN Charter for the promotion of peaceful, friendly, and good neighbourly relations among nations in the spirit of ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future,” the declaration says.