Not The Joint Statement But Ukraine Will Be EU’s Priority At G-20 Summit: EU Official

Relevance: GS2 - Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests. Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests

(Source: The Hindu, 09/07/2023)

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Why in the news?

• Recently, a senior EU official stated that the European Union’s priority at the G-20 Summit in New Delhi will be Ukraine.
• In February 2022, Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine which is still continuing despite the huge losses to life and property.

What is the crisis in Ukraine?

• The Ukrainian crisis is based on the historical, political, and economic dimensions of post-Cold War territorial disputes in Central Europe and Russia's attempts at reviving itself to its superpower status.
• Ukraine and Russia share deep-rooted cultural, linguistic, and familial bonds that span centuries which have been exploited for political gains, both in elections and military endeavors.

Causes of the Ongoing Conflict

• Balance of Power: Russia seeking to assert its influence in the region which affects Ukraine’s national interests, thereby affecting the balance of power in the region.
• Buffer Between Russia and the West: Ukraine's geographical location makes it a buffer zone between Russia and the NATO-influenced region.
  • This has contributed to geopolitical struggles for control and influence between the two flanks.
• Ukraine's Bid for NATO Membership: Ukraine's application for NATO membership was seen as a direct threat to Russia’s security interests.
• Russian Interests in the Black Sea: The Black Sea is strategically important for both Russia and Ukraine due to its proximity to the region.
  • This is particularly important as the Black Sea is a critical component of the trade, economic, and food supplies of both nations.
• Protests in Ukraine and Russia: Ongoing protests within the two countries reflect the complex political landscape and the aspirations of the people.
  • Governments have presented a strong front in order to build public support for their regimes.

Repercussions

• As a result of the invasion of Ukraine, there has been an enormous destruction of infrastructure and subsequently a massive economic loss.
• The war has led to the creation of a massive humanitarian and refugee crisis in Europe.
• The sanctions imposed on Russia by the Western nations led to a deterioration in the socio-economic conditions of Russia and its isolation from the international world.
• Europe suffered from an energy crisis as these countries were heavily dependent on Russian oil and gas.
• Various commodities such as food and energy experienced inflation, leading to a decrease in demand.

What was the stance of other countries?

EU

• The European Union has strongly criticized Russia’s actions in Ukraine which it claims are a breach of Humanitarian Law.
• The EU has also criticized the systematic use of missiles and drones by Russia to attack civilians, civilian objects, and infrastructure across Ukraine.
• In response, the EU has imposed a wide range of sanctions on Russia with the aim of crippling its ability to finance the war, diminish Russia’s economic base, and punish the strategic minds behind the war.

West

• Western countries, led by the U.S.A., have expressed support for Ukraine and provided it with economic, and arms support to defend itself.
• Support provided by Western nations has been framed as a part of the struggle between democracy and authoritarianism, and the defense of democracy.

What have officials said about the G-20 summit?

EU

• Officials of the EU have claimed that the G-20 Summit should prioritize the Ukraine issue and defend the sovereignty and integrity of Ukraine.
• The Western bloc stated that it had wished to include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the G-20 summit in New Delhi.
  • India, as host of the G-20 had decided not to invite Ukraine to the Summit.
• The G-20 was described as the apt avenue to discuss the Ukraine issue and claimed that the G-20 is a political organization.
• The EU, U.S.A., Russia, France, and India also expressed support for the inclusion of the African Union in the G-20.
• The EU officials also expected friction on the issues of climate change, multilateral development banks, and debt management.

Joint Communique

• The EU official claimed that a joint communique might not be issued as the text prepared by India was not satisfactory for the EU and G-7.
• Traditionally, a consensus is reached by members at the G-20 Summit and a joint declaration is issued.
• A failure to do so in India’s Presidency could impact India’s reputation and also raise questions about the sustainability of the current form of the G-20.
• Although there were strong disagreements among members at previous summits such as Brisbane (2014) and Bali (2022), a final document was achieved.
• No joint communique from any ministerial or official meetings of the grouping that were held in India.

Russia

• The Russian Ambassador to India rejected the EU suggestion to prioritize Ukraine at the G-20 by stating that the G-20 should not be politicized and that non-consensual items should be removed from the agenda.
• According to the Russian ambassador, the G-20 had been hijacked by certain countries to discuss the Ukraine issue.

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FAQs

MCQs

Question: With reference to the "G20 Common Framework", consider the following statements:

1. It is an initiative endorsed by the G20 together with the Paris Club.
2. It is an initiative to support low-income countries with unsustainable debt.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Question: The term ‘Digital Single Market Strategy’ seen in the news refers to

(a) ASEAN

(b) BRICS

(c) EU

(d) G20