Russia and the U.S. failed to agree on language for a joint statement following an 18-nation summit in Cambodia, making it unlikely the Group of 20 nations will reach a consensus in Indonesia either this week.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov put the blame on the U.S. and its allies, saying on Sunday they "insisted on absolutely unacceptable language regarding the situation in Ukraine.” He said the U.S. had succeeded in dividing the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations and accused NATO of stepping up activity in the region.
Russia refuses to describe its invasion of Ukraine as a war, instead calling it a "special military operation.”
"There is a clear trend on militarization of the region through coordination of efforts of local U.S. allies such Australia, New Zealand, Japan with NATO enlargement” said Lavrov, speaking in Cambodia before heading for the G20 summit in Bali. Russian leader Vladimir Putin isn’t attending that event, which will include U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has split the international community, with the U.S. and its allies putting sanctions on Moscow and providing its neighbor with military aid and economic assistance. The conflict has thwarted broader international cooperation, with several multilateral meetings this year ending in discord.