Ukraine’s Indonesia envoy urges G20 nations to discuss Russian invasion, after China says it’s not ‘appropriate’ to do so

Ambassador Vasyl Hamianin said China’s position was ‘not correct’ as the war’s ramifications were wide-ranging, threatening food security

He also urged Indonesia to ‘stand up and speak out’ against Russia’s aggression, as the country gears up to convene the bloc’s meetings this year

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A person holds up a Ukrainian flag as people attend the weekly general audience held by Pope Francis at the Vatican. Photo: Reuters

Published: 7:50pm, 16 Mar 2022Updated: 12:32pm, 17 Mar 2022

Ukraine’s top envoy in Jakarta on Wednesday said it was crucial for Russia’s invasion of his country to be part of discussions among the G20 nations, and that the economic effects of the conflict had global implications, as Indonesia convenes the grouping’s meetings this year.

Ambassador Vasyl Hamianin, speaking in a webinar organised by the Jakarta Foreign Correspondents Club, said the war’s ramifications were wide-ranging as they involved the breakdown of logistical links and threats to global food security.

His remarks came a day after China, a G20 member, said the grouping was “not the appropriate forum” to discuss the conflict, echoing a position held by Indonesia.

“The reality tells us that not a single question on the agenda of the G20 summit will be possible to discuss, without understanding that we are facing the economic crisis due to [Western-imposed] sanctions [on Russia]; due to the breaking of logistic links, now globally; and due to the fact that if Ukraine fails to gather enough crops, it might be a threat to the world’s food security next year,” Hamianin said.

“So how can you discuss global economic issues without making sure this conflict [ends]? I’m thinking that it is possible for any member of G20 to raise the issue and to put it on the agenda at the next summit.”

Ukraine is Indonesia’s second-biggest wheat and meslin flour provider, behind Australia. From January to November 2021, Southeast Asia’s biggest economy imported 2.76 million tonnes of both commodities from Ukraine, worth US$821 million, according to data from the Indonesian statistics agency.

Ukraine’s ambassador to Indonesia, Vasyl Hamianin. Photo: Facebook

Indonesia holds the rotating presidency of the G20 in 2022, and will host the grouping’s leaders in a summit in October on the resort island of Bali.

Ukraine’s Indonesia envoy urges G20 nations to discuss Russian invasion, after China says it’s not ‘appropriate’ to do so

Ambassador Vasyl Hamianin said China’s position was ‘not correct’ as the war’s ramifications were wide-ranging, threatening food security He also urged Indonesia to ‘stand up and speak out’ against Russia’s aggression, as the country gears up to convene the bloc’s meetings this year