At the opening of the G20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia November 15, President Joko Widodo emphasized countries should play a part to end conflicts and wars. All nations have a shared responsibility to respect international law and the principles of the UN Charter. As world leaders kicked off the G20 Summit, there is no question that the war in Ukraine is on the top of their minds.
“Creating a win-win situation is not a zero-sum. We must end the war,” Widodo said of Russia’s illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine on February 24 and which has since continued on till to date, with Ukraine suffering countless loss of lives, immense damages to infrastructure and properties. Russia’s invasion has also triggered global food and energy crises.
Widodo said a prolong war will have implications for years to come. “If the war has not end, it will be difficult for the world to move forward. If the war has not end, it will be hard for us to take responsibility for the future of the current generation and the future generation,” he said.
Many countries, especially the developing ones, are facing food insecurity, lack of fertilizers, crop failures, and a host of other problems, according to Widodo. He said at least 48 countries will experience severe food shortage if the war carries on, and he exhorted all countries to take responsibility and work together for the world.
M. Sirod, East Jakarta Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN) administrator, told Maritime Fairtrade he hopes the Indonesian government can take concrete steps to end the war, for example, staying active at the international level advocating for an end.
On November 16, G20 leaders agreed on a joint declaration condemning Russia, with the heads of state saying they “deplore in the strongest terms” Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. This was a victory for the G20 Summit, as there are deep divisions over the war among the countries, for example, China till now, refuses to condemn either the war or Putin. The war has resulted in a humanitarian crisis, global food and energy shortages, and a soaring inflation.
The declaration also said Russia’s “use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is inadmissible. The peaceful resolution of conflicts, efforts to address crises, as well as diplomacy and dialogue, are vital. Today’s era must not be of war.”
Photo credit: Angiola Harry. Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo speaking at G20 Summit.
