Russian President Vladimir Putin, addressing the G20 leaders on Wednesday, the 22nd of November, said in a calm tone that an end to the “tragedy” of the war in Ukraine should be considered. The conflict, triggered by the deployment of Russian troops in February 2022, is the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War II and the biggest confrontation between Russia and the West since the Cold War, reports Reuters.
In his first address to G20 leaders since the start of the war, President Putin admitted that some leaders had indicated in their speeches that they were shocked by Russia’s “aggression” in Ukraine. He underlined the tragic nature of the military actions and called for collective thinking on how “to stop this tragedy”.
Russia has always been open to peace talks with Ukraine.
According to Reuters, Putin used the word “war” to describe the conflict, rather than the Kremlin’s previous term “special military operation”.
Acknowledging that “this” war and the loss of human life are shocking, Putin set out Russia’s vision, claiming that Ukraine is persecuting people in eastern Ukraine.
Read also: UN Human Rights Office: civilian death toll in Ukraine exceeds 10 000
He then expressed concern about civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip, asking G20 leaders whether these figures are not shocking, highlighting the difficult conditions under which doctors work there.
Russia, which annexed Crimea in 2014, now controls about 17.5% of Ukraine, according to the Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center, reports Reuters. Putin claims that these territories are now part of Russia.
Despite internal discussions on alternative strategies, Ukraine is determined to continue fighting until all Russian troops leave its territory.
Putin has attended previous G20 summits through Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Significantly, he spoke remotely from Moscow at the 2021 and 2020 summits and last attended the G20 meeting in person in Osaka, Japan, in 2019.
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