Some Western Countries Walk Out During G20 Russia Remarks... Korea, Japan, and Germany Remain Seated

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[Asia Economy Washington (USA) = Reporter Kwon Haeyoung] Some Western countries attending the Group of Twenty (G20) finance ministers meeting held in Washington DC protested Russia's invasion of Ukraine by walking out before the Russian side's remarks. However, most countries, including South Korea, Japan, and Germany, remained in the meeting room.

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

The boycott of this meeting included U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Jerome Powell, Canadian Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey, and European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde. They returned after the Russian side finished speaking. Among them, Chrystia Freeland, Canadian Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, is originally from Ukraine. The boycott was reportedly led by the United States and the United Kingdom. Earlier, Secretary Yellen had indicated she would not attend any sessions involving Russian officials, signaling her intention to walk out.

Hong Nam-ki, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance of South Korea, who had already delivered his speech before the Russian remarks, 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 also reported that Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko attended and spoke before Russia's turn.

This G20 finance ministers meeting, the first since the Ukraine war began, saw some countries boycott, signaling that the international community led by the United States is expected to increasingly isolate and pressure Russia. With Western countries collectively protesting Russia's invasion over the Ukraine issue, it is anticipated that no joint statement 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 presidency, have expressed opposition. Indonesia plans to invite Russia to the ministerial meeting in July and the summit in November. This has led some to criticize that the G20, which has led the global economic order as a forum for advanced and emerging countries, is failing to fulfill its role.

A government official stated, "About 60 people, including G20 finance ministers and central bank governors, attended the meeting," adding, "Except for some countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada, no other countries left the meeting."

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