What a deal by world leaders on the sidelines of the G20 summit
The meeting of Putin and Obama. Photo: RIA Novosti
In the Chinese Hangzhou ended on the summit of “Big twenty”. As in previous years, world leaders on the sidelines of the G20 discussed the problems of the world economy, energy and joint counteraction against terrorism.
This year, the key topics of the talks the Russian delegation was the settlement of the situation in the East of Ukraine, the issue of Syria and oil production.
During these two days Vladimir Putin has had some time up to talk with US President Barack Obama to discuss cooperation with Turkish leader Recep Erdogan, met with the new Prime Minister of great Britain Teresa may and talked about the “channel format” with Angela Merkel and Francois Hollande, and held an informal meeting with the BRICS leaders and gave a box of ice cream “owner” of the summit, XI took XI’s.
What have you agreed the Russian side the leaders of the “Big twenty”?
Ukraine
The settlement of the situation in Ukraine became the main topic of the talks with President of France Francois Hollande and Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel. It was originally planned that the topic will be discussed at the trilateral meeting, but later the Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said that the event is canceled because “our colleagues have preferred referring to the graph, hold two bilateral meetings”.
Initially, the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, despite the fact that Ukraine is not a member of the G20, proposed to use the summit in Hangzhou, to hold a meeting of the Normandy format at the highest level.
“This meeting was not agreed, and after the events in the Crimea, our President clearly expressed his attitude to this possible contact. We refused even to consider such a prospect,” — said Russian presidential aide.
Recall, then, according to the official version of the Russian authorities, Ukrainian saboteurs, including staff members of the Ukrainian intelligence, was planning to organize a number of explosions at strategic sites in Crimea. After that, Poroshenko instructed to lead the embattled units in the area, and Russia held exercises in the Crimea in the framework of a sudden check the combat readiness of the armed forces.
Immediately after the incident, Vladimir Putin said that the planned meeting in the “Normandy format” is meaningless, as the authorities of Ukraine instead of having to look for a peaceful resolution, turned to the practice of terror.”
In Hangzhou, after the meeting with Putin, the French President said that the parties agreed in the coming weeks to organize a summit involving Germany, France, Russia and Ukraine. This agreement also confirmed Merkel.
“We need to solve the issues that block [the Minsk agreements] today — in particular, the provision of [separate regions of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts special status, the security situation and the lack of trust between the parties [of the conflict],” said the French President.
Curiously, despite the announcement of Hollande to hold a new meeting in Normandy format on the official website of the Russian President about this agreement, nothing said in the communiqué following the meetings involve only a phrase about the necessity of further interaction “channel four”.
The meeting of Putin and Hollande. Photo: press service of the Kremlin
The Ukrainian issue at the summit also touched on President Barack Obama. Unlike Putin, he still held a trilateral meeting with Hollande and Merkel, but the details of the conversation are unknown.
After a personal meeting with Putin, which was also discussed Ukraine, Obama has made it clear that the United States will not withdraw from Russia sanctions, until will run the Minsk agreement.
“It’s important for both sides to take the opportunity in the coming weeks to finalize the document and understand the sequence in which the document will be translated into reality,” — said the American leader.
In the Kremlin on the question about the further development of cooperation in the “Normandy format” replied evasively, noting that before you decide “still a long job.”
Later on a press-conferences Vladimir Putin has described the future of the negotiations: “I told the heads of France and Germany that the question is not whether to meet or not to meet. The question is to look for solutions. And no, as I see it, doesn’t want to meet just to meet. Maybe except for Poroshenko.
The Syrian issue
Solution to the Syrian crisis, this time with special interest discussed in the main chapters of foreign policy departments. In particular, Sergey Lavrov and John Kerry discussed the cessation of hostilities and the Russian-American cooperation in the fight against terrorist groups.
After the meeting, Kerry told reporters that Moscow and Washington remained “a pair of sharp serious issues”, and positions on him, apparently did not agree: as reported by Reuters, a senior source from the state Department, Laramie and Kerry are unable to develop a common approach to solving the Syrian problem.
According to Vladimir Putin, Syria is the “first subject”, which was discussed at the meeting with Obama. Unlike the members of the delegation, the heads of USA and Russia felt “some convergence and understanding of what could be done to discharge in Syria,” and now are “on right track”.
However, German Chancellor Angela Merkel was more concerned with the question of delivery of humanitarian assistance in Aleppo. She stressed that Putin has enough influence to establish peace in the region and can play a big role in providing humanitarian aid to the civilian population, as this issue is urgent.
Negotiations on the future of Syria took place against the backdrop of the Turkish operation “Shield of the Euphrates. 24 Aug Turkey has imposed on Syrian territory, about 40 tanks, which supported nearly one thousand Syrian rebels. Less than two weeks, the Turkish authorities announced the release of the border with Syria from Islamic state (a terrorist organization banned in Russia) and the militants lost control of the settlements from Azaz to Jerablus.
After the summit, Putin admitted that the entry of Turkish troops into Syria was not a surprise for Russia, especially because of the movement of Turkish troops was noticeable.
“As for surprises, we have and that is why the Ministry of foreign Affairs, and special services that we have less surprises. In principle we understood what was happening, where it is going. We see the same and movement are visible, and aspirations, and problems visible, which arise from the same Turkey in connection with the events in Syria. And she having such problems,” he added, noting that Moscow does not welcome any action that contradict the norms and principles of international law.
Oil
One of the main outcomes of the summit in Hangzhou can be considered the signing of the joint statement of Russia and Saudi Arabia to stabilize the oil market and strategic partnership in the energy sector. According to the Minister of energy Alexander Novak, this agreement actually opens a new era of cooperation “with our Arab friends.”
The essence of the agreement is that Russia and Saudi Arabia agreed to establish a joint monitoring working group, which will monitor the oil market and to develop joint actions to ensure stability and predictability of the market.
In addition, the parties are actively discussing the possibility of freezing the oil production three or six months.
On the news about the signing of the joint statement, the world prices for oil grew by more than 5%.
At a press conference in Hangzhou Vladimir Putin, speaking about energy, said that oil prices now are unfair and could be a little higher. However, Russia has no reason to be concerned: according to the President, “today’s price of us basically satisfied”.
Closing the summit, the host of the event, XI Jinping, concluded that this year was made breakthroughs in cooperation in the field of fight against corruption. After the G20, China has decided to open a center for the study of this problem and the country’s “Big twenty” took the anti-corruption plan for 2017-2018.
In the final communiqué of the international leaders have urged all members of the “twenty” to ratify anti-corruption the UN Convention. Russia signed the document in 2003, but still has not ratified several paragraphs, including article 20 “Illicit enrichment”. However, neither the Russian leader, not the delegates at the summit has not made any official statements on this account.
Author: Julia Mineeva
