Russia Says G20 Summit Was A "Breakthrough"; Praises India For Preventing Western Dominance

Following the signing of the G20 New Delhi Leaders' Declaration, which did not mention Russia but called for peace in Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed his satisfaction on Sunday (10 September), stating that the Summit was a "definite success" and a "breakthrough".

According to Lavrov, this achievement paves the way for the world to tackle various challenges.

During a press conference, Lavrov commended the Global South and emphasised that they do not wish to be lectured.

Lavrov described the Summit as a turning point and a milestone due to the prominent involvement of the Global South.

The Global South leadership in the discussions marked a significant shift in the dynamics of the Summit.

“It is a breakthrough Summit in many ways. It provides us a way forward to move ahead on many issues,” he said, reports Indian Express.

Lavrov said he gave "final touches" to the declaration which he did not expect.

The negotiations took place in secrecy, similar to the process of electing a Pope, but without the presence of smoke, according to Lavrov.

He acknowledged the hard work of Svetlana (Lukash), Russian G20 sherpa, and her team, who worked hard with Sherpas during the negotiations.

Lavrov praised India for playing a significant role in "preventing the West" from advancing their approach on various issues, including Ukraine.

The New Delhi Summit marked a significant step towards achieving fairness in global governance and finance, he said.

“I want to express my gratitude to India for preventing attempts to politicise the G20,” he said.

Lavrov added that the West will not be able to remain a “hegemony” as “we see new centres of power coming up” in the world.

Regarding the climate change challenge, he noted that the Western powers have failed to fulfill their promise of providing $100 billion annually to developing countries for addressing climate change.