Europe 1 with AFP 11:22 a.m., July 7, 2022, modified at 11:23 a.m., July 7, 2022

On the 134th day of the war in Ukraine, the foreign ministers of the G20 countries meet in Bali.

One of the challenges of the summit will be to advance discussions on Ukraine, despite the participation of Russia, said an American official.

However, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is not expected to meet his counterpart Sergei Lavrov there.

THE ESSENTIAL

The United States believes that the meeting of foreign ministers of the G20 countries in Bali will help to advance discussions on Ukraine, despite the participation of Russia, said Thursday a US official.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was due to arrive on the Indonesian island on Thursday for the meeting, but he is not expected to meet his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov there, the State Department said.

Information to remember:

  • Foreign ministers of G20 countries meet Thursday and Friday in Bali

  • A joint G20 statement on Ukraine would be difficult due to Russia's participation in the summit

  • One of the objectives is "to clearly establish the responsibility of Russia on some of the problems that the G20 will tackle"

US official says he expects 'virtually all G20 countries' to agree on initiatives to address global food insecurity and energy price volatility driven by Russian invasion from Ukraine.

The same source acknowledged that a joint G20 statement on Ukraine would not be possible due to Russia's participation in the summit.

"Establishing Russia's Accountability"

“Whether or not the G20 as a whole approves something is less important than whether all the countries (that it brings together) support something that we are trying to do,” the US official said during a layover. in Tokyo to refuel.

“You will see that we will be able, if necessary, to clearly establish Russian responsibility for some of the issues that the G20 will be tackling,” he added.

If he will not meet Sergei Lavrov, Antony Blinken must on the other hand meet in Bali with the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi, in order to address the question of Sino-American tensions.

However, no announcement should be made about a possible easing of Washington's tariff barriers on Chinese imports, said the American official.

Indonesia has invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to the G20 summit to be held in November in Bali, despite Western pressure and in particular from the United States to isolate him.

As a compromise solution, Indonesia has also invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.