G20 leaders adopted a statement addressing the climate crisis and other global issues Saturday at the start of a G20 meeting in South Africa, which comes amid a boycott and opposition from the United States and as EU leaders react to the U.S.-proposed peace plan for Ukraine.
A statement from a sideline meeting of EU leaders “reiterated that the implementation of the European Union-related and NATO-related elements requires the consent of EU and NATO member states, respectively.”
Their statement was released at the opening and hearing of the G20 on Saturday as Washington’s proposed peace plan for Ukraine emerged.
Africa’s first two-day summit opened on Saturday with leaders and officials from major and emerging countries gathering in Johannesburg without the participation of the United States following a boycott by US President Donald Trump.
South African Presidential Spokesperson Cyril Ramaphosa told reporters that the declaration adopted at the climate crisis summit “cannot be renegotiated,” citing language that the US government opposes.
“We have been working on this recruitment for a year and the past week has been very intense,” the spokesperson said.
In his opening speech, President Ramaphosa underlined the importance of the conference for the entire continent. “The first G20 summit to be held in Africa is full of hope and must reflect the aspirations of the people of this continent and the world,” said Prime Minister Ramaphosa.
South Africa’s president said it was the responsibility of all participants to “not allow the value, status and influence of Africa’s first G20 Presidency to be undermined”.
The leaders included senior European Union officials, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President Antonio Costa.
In her speech at the G20 meeting, Ms. von der Leyen emphasized the importance of the summit and called for “inclusive and sustainable economic growth that leaves no one behind.”
“Addressing global imbalances requires concerted and cooperative action. We need to discuss the root causes and truly assess global imbalances, with the support of international institutions such as the IMF, WTO and World Bank,” von der Leyen said.
He added: “Europe needs to shoulder its responsibility and increase investment, but again, this is a collective responsibility.”
EU calls for ‘additional work’ on Trump’s Ukraine peace plan
Despite the US boycott and the attendance of several European leaders, the US-proposed peace plan for Ukraine loomed large on the sidelines of the summit.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz have met to hammer out an alternative to a U.S. plan to end Russia’s war against Ukraine, nearly four years after it invaded the neighboring country.
“The initial draft of the 28-point plan contains key elements essential for a just and lasting peace,” the EU said in a statement after the sideline meeting, welcoming the United States’ continued efforts toward peace in Ukraine.
But he added: “We believe the draft is a foundation that requires further work. We stand ready to work to ensure that future peace is sustainable.”
“We are clear in the principle that national borders must not be changed by force,” the EU statement added.
The reaction comes as European countries facing their own future stakes in Ukraine’s fight to repel Russia insist on being consulted in the peace effort.
Saturday’s talks, which coincided with the G20 in Johannesburg, also came as a show of support for Kiev after Ms von der Leyen and EU Council President Antonio Costa spoke by phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Friday.
Kiev and other European capitals were alarmed by the Kremlin’s 28-point blueprint to thwart aggression.
President Zelenskiy said in a somber video that the country may have to make difficult decisions between defending its sovereignty and maintaining necessary U.S. support.
The US peace plan foresees handing over some Ukrainian territory to Russia, something Kiev has repeatedly ruled out, while reducing the size of its military, blocking a path to coveted NATO membership, and providing Kiev with limited security.
