Ahead of the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in Indonesia, Foreign Minister Barbuk renewed his call on Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov to stop the attacks in Ukraine. Until that happens, there will be no bilateral talks with Russia.

At a G20 meeting of ambitious major economic powers in Bali, Foreign Minister Annalina Barbuk relied on Moscow’s widespread isolation due to Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine. The Green politician said after arriving at the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting that he, like his European counterparts, visited the Indonesian island “to make it clear that we are not leaving the international stage for Russia “.

On Friday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was the first minister from Moscow to attend the G20 meeting since the start of the war. War is expected to dictate many considerations. In addition to discussions aimed at encouraging the resolution of international multilateral conflicts, global food and energy security will also be addressed.

Lavrov had arrived in Bali before Barbuk and met for talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. Nothing has been announced about its content. Russia’s presence at the G20 meeting is seen as a test of Kremlin President Vladimir Putin’s potential presence at the Nov. 15-16 G20 summit, also to be held in Bali. Several countries questioned their participation if Putin showed up in person.

G7 countries don’t want to talk to Lavrov

Barbock said Russian President Vladimir Putin should not be allowed to “throw the world into chaos”. He stressed that the consequences of the war should not be devastating for other regions of the world, in the context of the impending global hunger crisis. Barbock announced that he and other G7 representatives would not hold the usual bilateral meeting with Lavrov on the sidelines of the consultations. “Anyone who bombards the international peace system cannot assume that we are talking about bilateral trade relations.”

Germany currently holds the presidency of the Group of Seven. In addition to Germany and the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Canada and Japan are part of the G7 group. When asked if he would agree to shake hands with Lavrov, the minister simply replied: “We are at an international conference where I cannot smile with someone who is bombing Ukraine at the same time”. That’s why there will be no ordinary family photos. Speaking in front of Lavrov, you ‘will find very clear words that we do not accept this violation of international law’. Furthermore, the minister said he would “press once more: stop this bombardment”. Barbock said Russia is part of the G-20 circle. But it’s important that Russia doesn’t have a stage here.”

Indonesia tries to mediate in the war

He attended a meeting in support of the Indonesian presidency of the G20, which today offers opportunities for exchanges with the international community. “But trading means you’re not bombing each other,” Barbock said. That’s why the meeting can’t be in Bali like the other times. “If a country attacks the international system and therefore the countries that are also sitting at this table, we cannot have a good dinner,” said the minister.

Indonesia, the largest archipelagic country in the world, holds the presidency of the G20 this year. President Joko Widodo visited Kyiv and Moscow at the end of June and met Ukrainian Presidents Volodymyr Zelensky and Putin. He introduced the role of mediation in conflicts.

He waits impatiently if some ministers will leave the deliberations to protest Lavrov’s presence and the scandal will break out. Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesman Teuku Faizasyah did not respond to this, but stressed, “We diplomats need to be prepared for different scenarios.” Most likely, there will be no final announcement together. The spokesperson said a statement from the Indonesian Foreign Ministry was expected at the end of Friday’s meeting.