Some US and Western Finance Ministers Walk Out During Russia's G20 Speech... Korea and Japan Remain Seated

Rising Pressure from the International Community on Russia

[Asia Economy Washington (USA) = Reporter Kwon Haeyoung] At the G20 Finance Ministers' meeting held in Washington DC, some Western countries attending protested Russia's invasion of Ukraine by partially walking out before Russia's turn to speak. South Korea, along with Japan and Germany, remained in their seats.

According to the government on the 20th (local time), when it was Russia's turn to speak at the G20 Finance Ministers' meeting held that day, finance ministers from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the European Union (EU) partially left the meeting room.

Participants in the boycott of this meeting included U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Jerome Powell, Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey, and European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde. They returned to their seats after Russia's remarks concluded. Earlier, Secretary Yellen had announced her intention to not attend any sessions involving Russian officials, signaling her planned walkout.

Hong Nam-ki, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance of South Korea, who had already delivered his speech before Russia's turn, remained in his seat. Finance ministers from Japan, Germany, and Italy also stayed in the meeting room. About 60 finance ministers and central bank governors from various countries attended the meeting. It was reported that Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko also attended and spoke before Russia's turn.

This G20 Finance Ministers' meeting, the first since the outbreak of the Ukraine war, saw some countries boycott, indicating that the international community led by the United States is expected to increasingly isolate and pressure Russia. As Western countries collectively protest Russia's invasion over the Ukraine situation, it is anticipated that no joint communiqu? will be adopted at this G20 Finance Ministers' meeting.

Positions among G20 members are also divided. While the Group of Seven (G7) is pushing for Russia's expulsion from the G20, emerging countries such as Indonesia, China, India, and Brazil, which hold the G20 chairmanship, have expressed opposition. Indonesia plans to invite Russia to the ministerial meeting in July and the summit in November. This has led to criticism that the G20, which has led the global economic order as a forum for advanced and emerging countries, is failing to fulfill its role.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.