Rishi Sunak confronted Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov at the G20 summit overnight, telling him to 'get out of Ukraine and end this barbaric war'. 

In the first face-to-face clash between a British Prime Minister and a senior Kremlin figure since the war began, Mr Sunak said the 'Putin regime' had turned Russia into a pariah.

He said it is unacceptable for any country to invade its neighbours, kill civilians and threaten nuclear war, adding the UK will back Ukraine for 'as long as it takes'.

But Lavrov hit back, peddling Kremlin propaganda that the West was responsible for waging 'hybrid warfare' in Ukraine and that Kyiv's 'unreasonable demands' are to blame for 'dragging it out'.

The veteran diplomat, attending the conference instead of Russian president Vladimir Putin, who was 'too busy' to show up, cynically suggested Russia is trying to solve the world's food and energy shortages - when in fact Moscow stands accused of causing them.

While Mr Sunak took a hard stance on Russia, he was accused of going soft on both China and Saudi Arabia. He refused to confirm Beijing will be labelled a 'threat' to the UK and failed to raise the murder of Jamal Khashoggi with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

That is perhaps a sign that the UK sees itself being preoccupied by Ukraine and Russia's invasion for the foreseeable future. 

Sunak tore into Russia over its illegal invasion of Ukraine and the global economic crisis it sparked, telling leaders at the summit: 'One man has the power to change all of this.

'It is notable that Putin didn't feel able to join us here. Maybe if he had, we could get on with sorting things out.

'Because the single biggest difference that anyone could make is for Russia to get out of Ukraine and end this barbaric war.

'That would be transformative for Ukraine, but for the world.

'The UK rejects this aggression. We will back Ukraine for as long as it takes…And we will work constructively with the rest of the G20 to preserve the international order, because that is our collective responsibility.'

Since the invasion, global food prices have been driven up by Putin's attempts to choke off the Ukrainian grain supply and energy bills have skyrocketed thanks to Russia turning off their gas taps.

Mr Sunak told the room this 'weaponisation' of food and energy supplies was 'totally unacceptable' as it was 'harming the most vulnerable people around the world' by fuelling rising inflation and the cost of living.

The PM added: 'It is very simple - countries should not invade their neighbours, they should not attack civilian infrastructure and civilian populations and they should not threaten nuclear escalation.

'Surely these are things on which we can all agree.'

Lavrov did little to raise the hopes of a peace deal when he spoke.

'All problems are with the Ukrainian side,' he said at a press conference after the main summit was over. '[Kyiv] is categorically refusing negotiations and putting forward conditions that are obviously unrealistic.'

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky is 'not listening' to the advice of other Western leaders, Lavrov suggested, saying he had laid out Moscow's position in talks with French president Emmanuel Macron and Germany's Olaf Scholz.

'The more Ukraine refuses to talk, the harder it will be to reach an agreement,' Lavrov added. 

Observers accused Lavrov of making 'false parallels' as he hit back at the accusations, saying how would England feel if its own language was banned in Ireland.

'It didn't make a huge amount of sense,' one insider said.

Zelensky, addressing the conference remotely, did say that it was time to end the war - but added that peace could only be achieved when Russia withdraws all of its troops from all occupied territory.

Kyiv will not compromise its sovereignty, territory or independence in return for peace, Zelensky added, as he called for the release of all Ukrainian prisoners.

'I am convinced now is the time when the Russian destructive war must and can be stopped,' he told the summit on the island of Bali.

'Please choose your path for leadership - and together we will surely implement the peace formula,' he said.

Comparing the recapture of Kherson to a key turning point that swung World War II, he said: 'It is like, for example, D-Day – the landing of the allies in Normandy.'

He also rejected the idea of peace talks with Putin after reports America was privately encouraging to enter into negotiations.

The day before the summit, Mr Sunak also said he supported peace talks in future once the situation has stabilised.

He said: 'I want this aggressive Russian war to end justly and on the basis of the UN Charter and international law.

'Ukraine should not be offered to conclude compromises with its conscience, sovereignty, territory and independence.'

Source Daily Mail

BDST: 1926 HRS, NOV 15, 2022
MSK