Trudeau says G20 leaders’ condemnation of Russia not strong enough

Global economic leaders agreed on a final declaration at the G20 summit, but the language surrounding Russia's invasion of Ukraine has softened since the leaders last met.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says if it were up to him, the G20 leaders’ declaration on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine would have been much stronger.

At a closing summit news conference, Trudeau said Sunday that if other leaders had their way, the declaration would have been much weaker.

He called the G20 an “extremely disparate group,” adding representatives worked hard to get the strongest language they possibly could.

Global economic leaders agreed on a final declaration at the G20 summit, but the language surrounding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has softened since the leaders last met.

The consensus statement from this year’s summit in India was posted by the host country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday, a day before the summit’s conclusion.

It calls for the cessation of military destruction or other attacks on relevant infrastructure, as the violence is affecting food and energy security as well as supply chains.

Gone is language from last year’s G20 summit in Bali, where leaders directly criticized Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and demanded its troops withdraw from the territory.

Trudeau said Sunday that Canada would continue to support Ukraine with whatever it takes for as long as it takes.