Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Jolie says she will not shake the hand of her Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov at the G20 meeting in Bali, Indonesia this week. He told the Canadian press that he intends to take aim at the Russian foreign minister’s lies about the invasion of Ukraine. “I will confront him with facts and expose the Russia narrative for what it is: lies and disinformation,” he said in a written response to questions. In March, Jolie joined scores of others walking out of a United Nations meeting in Geneva when Lavrov, who had been sanctioned by Canada days earlier, began speaking. But Canada’s involvement with Russia in Indonesia creates a diplomatic predicament at the G20. Lavrov has been one of the staunchest supporters of the invasion and President Vladimir Putin’s arguments justifying his invasion of Ukraine. And Jolie recently said it was unacceptable for a Canadian official to attend a reception hosted by the Russian Embassy in Ottawa. But she said that if she and other foreign ministers who oppose Russia’s invasion of Ukraine do not attend the G20 summit, it could work in favor of the Kremlin, allowing it to outline its version of the war. “If Canada is not at the table, Russia wins,” he said. “We cannot give way to Russian lies.” “Russia is committing atrocities on a massive scale in Ukraine and is threatening to cause global famine. But Russia denies these facts and spreads disinformation to escape international responsibility.” In a statement, the Department of Global Affairs said Jolie’s presence would provide an opportunity to immediately counter disinformation by representatives of the Russian regime. “Canada will not yield to Russian propaganda that seeks to justify the illegal invasion of a sovereign neighbour,” it said. Since the invasion of Ukraine, Jolie and other ministers have refused to share the floor when Russia speaks at summits. In April, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland participated in the walkout of the G20 meeting for finance ministers and central bank governors in Washington to protest Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In May, International Trade Minister Mary Ng joined her counterparts from the United States, Australia, Japan and New Zealand in walking out of an APEC meeting in Bangkok when the Russian representative began speaking. In an interview after leaving, Ng said she wouldn’t be “single” and would be ready to do it again. Last week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada would attend the G20 leaders’ meeting in November, even if Putin does, saying it was important to address Russia’s voice at that table. Lavrov has given a series of interviews, including with the BBC, to try to justify Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its tactics. Putin reportedly apologized to the Israeli prime minister after Lavrov told Italian television that Adolf Hitler was part Jew. The foreign minister made his remarks in an attempt to justify the Russian invasion as an attempt to de-Nazize Ukraine, even though Ukraine’s president is Jewish. The summit in Indonesia will address food shortages following the invasion of Ukraine, which has prevented the export of millions of tonnes of wheat to the developing world. Joly will also discuss advancing women’s equality worldwide and protecting the environment, as well as building resilient economies after the pandemic. The G20 is made up of the world’s largest economies, including the United States, India, China, South Africa, Mexico, Australia, Italy and the United Kingdom. Together they are responsible for about 80 percent of global economic output and two-thirds of the world’s population. The Morning Update and Afternoon Update newsletters are written by Globe editors, giving you a concise summary of the day’s most important headlines. Sign up today.
