The focus of the gathering on the Indonesian island of Bali was dominated by the war and its impact on the global economy, with top officials from Europe, the United States and Australia stressing that there would be no “business as usual” at the forum. without saying what that might entail. Russia’s incursion has cast a cloud over Indonesia’s presidency of the Group of 20 largest economies this year, with speculation of a boycott by some members and a walkout in April at a meeting of finance ministers in Washington. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said late Thursday that it was important for the host to “create an atmosphere that is comfortable for everyone” and that the G20 was an opportunity for progress. “This is the first time, since February 24, that all the big players are sitting in the same room,” she said, referring to the start of the Russian invasion. A senior US State Department official on Thursday said it was important to prevent “breaks or interruptions” in the G20 agenda while ensuring nothing took place that could legitimize Russia’s “brutality” of Ukraine. read more Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Thursday described Russia’s actions as “illegal, unjust and immoral”, a position she would make clear at the forum. Japan will also express its concerns about the war, a Japanese government official said, adding that it is in talks with like-minded countries, but no decision has been made to withdraw for Russia. Russia’s invasion, which it calls a “special military operation”, has caused major disruption to the global economy, with a blockade on Ukrainian grain and sanctions on Russian oil and gas causing a food crisis and global inflation to soar. Friday’s agenda includes a closed-door meeting with top diplomats from G20 countries including China, India, the United States, Brazil, Britain, Canada, Japan, South Africa, as well as bilateral talks on the sidelines. Ukraine’s foreign minister is expected to speak virtually at the meeting. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Bali on Thursday, during which he praised Beijing but criticized an “openly aggressive” West. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register Report by Stanley Widianto. Kate Lamb writes. Edited by Martin Petty Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
