G20 diplomats agree on draft statement condemning Russia - Bloomberg

That's according to Bloomberg, Ukrinform reports.

To agree on the draft statement, negotiators had to devise language that walked the line between acknowledging Russia's concerns and extracting concessions from it.

One diplomat cautioned that things were not completely ironed on with the full draft still not circulating even as a verbal understanding was reached, and with leaders yet to approve the language.

According to Bloomberg, the planned draft declaration will point to an earlier United Nations resolution, which deplored Russia's aggression while demanding it withdraw from Ukraine.

There was also agreement on language condemning any threats to use nuclear weapons, two diplomats said, in a reference to Moscow's vow to use any and all means at its disposal to defend territory it has illegally annexed in Ukraine.

Some member states had expressed reservations about language they regarded as too aggressive on Russia. One official had cited concern by China that allowing condemnation of Moscow could open the door to stronger statements in the future on Beijing's own behavior toward Taiwan, a democratically-governed island.

G20 leaders will meet for a summit in Indonesia on November 15-16.

Ahead of the summit, U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping at a meeting in Bali underscored their opposition to Russia's use of nuclear weapons against Ukraine.

Photo: Bloomberg