“Without Russia, it is impossible to solve world problems”: how the US intends to boycott G20 meetings due to the participation of the Russian Federation

The White House said that the head of the US Treasury would boycott G20 meetings if they were attended by Russian officials.

“Our representative (in the G20.

), the Minister of Finance, has unequivocally stated that she does not plan to attend events or meetings in which Russia will participate,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki made it clear during a briefing, answering a question from a journalist how acceptable is the remote participation of the Russian Federation in the upcoming April 20 meeting of representatives of the G20 states as part of the spring session of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

Psaki also stressed that US President Joe Biden had made clear concerns about Russia's participation in the G20 and made it clear that he believed the United States "should not operate as usual."

Earlier, on April 14, Indonesia, which chairs the G20, announced that Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov confirmed plans to participate in meetings of the heads of finance ministries and central banks of the G20 countries online.

“We are not authorized not to invite (any of the members of the G20.

),” said the representative of the Indonesian Ministry of Finance, Vempi Saputra, his words are quoted by Reuters.

- As chairman of the ("Big Twenty" this year.

) Indonesia invited all members, and to date, some of them have confirmed physical participation, and some virtual.

The fact that Siluanov will head the delegation from Russia at the G20 meeting was also announced by the Russian Ministry of Finance.

American boycott

Recall that on March 23, National Security Adviser to the President of the United States Jake Sullivan at a briefing at the White House said that Washington would discuss with partners the possibility of excluding Russia from the G20.

As he then noted, the American side believes that the Russian Federation "cannot continue to conduct its activities in the usual mode in terms of international institutions and the international community."

Meanwhile, China opposed the exclusion of Russia from the G20.

According to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin, the Russian Federation is an important member of the G20 "and no participant has the right to deprive another state of membership."

During the briefing, he stressed that the G20 should implement a true multilateral format, as well as "strengthen cohesion and cooperation, hand in hand to confront emerging difficulties."

In addition, Wenbin called the G20 an important platform for international economic cooperation, which represents the world's major economies.

However, on March 24, Joe Biden said that Russia should be excluded from the G20, while recognizing that the issue remains with the countries that are part of this negotiating format.

• US President Joe Biden

• AP

• © Carolyn Kaster

The next day, the Kremlin commented on the call of the head of the White House to deprive the Russian Federation of membership in the G20.

According to the press secretary of the Russian leader Dmitry Peskov, the United States continues "quite assertively its line of isolating Russia."

“Until now, this line could only partly be effective - the world is still much more diverse than the United States and European countries.

A large number of countries prefer a more balanced and sober approach to what is happening, they prefer to ask questions during a direct dialogue, agree with something, disagree with something, but not “cut the ropes,” Peskov said.

- Such a policy (Washington. -

) is untenable and cannot achieve the goal.

On April 5, Bloomberg reported, citing sources, that the United States was trying to persuade Indonesia to keep Russian President Vladimir Putin from attending the G20 summit.

In addition, US officials discussed whether Biden should skip the event if Putin takes part in it, media reports.

After that, on April 6, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said during a hearing in the House Financial Services Committee that Russia should be excluded from the G20 forum.

In addition, Washington will boycott G20 meetings if Russian officials are present, she stressed.

“President Biden made it clear ... that for Russia, none of the financial institutions can no longer have the usual format (interaction.

), - Yellen is quoted by Reuters.

- He (Biden.

) asked to exclude Russia from the G20, and I clearly explained to my colleagues in (chairing the forum.

) Indonesia that we will not participate in a number of meetings if Russia is present at them.

"The approach is fundamentally wrong"

As Konstantin Blokhin, a leading researcher at the Center for Security Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, noted, by defiantly refusing to participate in a number of meetings of G20 representatives, the United States "wants to encourage other countries to follow such a boycott."

“Washington’s goal is clear – it is the isolation of the Russian Federation.

Only they need to look at the geographical map of the world in order to understand: a country like Russia, and even in conjunction with China, India, cannot be isolated.

The United States, not realizing this, wants to push the Russian Federation out of world politics, the economy, many organizations and formats, including the G20.

But it is impossible to solve world problems without Russia.

If the United States tries to do this, they will simply miscalculate, ”the expert said in an interview with RT.

At the same time, Blokhin believes that not all countries will follow the lead of the United States, who want to “tear Russia away from the rest of the world.”

“The United States is putting pressure on China to refuse to cooperate with the Russian Federation, they are putting pressure on other states, for example, on India, to join the boycott.

But these countries have national interests that are based on mutually beneficial partnerships,” the analyst said.

• G20 Rome Summit 2021

• AP

• © Brendan Smialowski

Blokhin also noted that the United States "almost exhausted its sanctions tools", and therefore they are trying to play "their cunning game on the diplomatic field."

“They want to put together a coalition against Russia, not only from Western countries, but throughout the world.

Washington intends to turn the entire world community against the Russian Federation.

But many countries also have a head on their shoulders.

For example, Indonesia shows its political subjectivity by refusing to boycott against the Russian Federation within the framework of the G20.

And it deserves respect.

Indonesia is developing rapidly and is predicted to be one of the leaders of the future world order,” the expert believes.

In turn, Nikita Danyuk, deputy director of the RUDN Institute for Strategic Studies and Forecasts, member of the Russian Civic Chamber, noted that Washington continues to try to reformat the G20 into a platform “that will obey the will of Washington” through blackmail.

“But many G20 states will not agree to this, because then this format will quickly turn into an interest club, where there is a senior owner who invites countries on a club card if he likes them.

The G20 format was originally conceived as an alternative platform that does not depend on the will of the global West.

But Washington will do everything to convince Indonesia and the countries that will continue to chair the G20 that Russia does not need to be invited, ”the analyst said in a conversation with RT.

At the same time, according to Danyuk, despite Washington's colossal efforts to attract other countries to boycott against the Russian Federation, many states of Latin America, Asia and the Middle East do not want to join anti-Russian sanctions and other similar measures.

“The fact that Russia is still a member of the G20 and will continue to take part in the work of this format shows that the US attempts to isolate the Russian Federation are futile.

Not to mention in general that the approach regarding the exclusion of the Russian side from the G20 is fundamentally wrong.

After all, no decision on the global economy, geopolitics or security can be taken in a balanced way without the participation of Russia, ”the expert concluded.