Tensions on energy prices are also caused by Russia, as Moscow used energy as a weapon to try to blackmail Europe. (Representational/File)
We do not want to live in a world of “might makes right”, but one where strong institutions, agreed rules and international law form the basis for global cooperation
Written by Ugo Astuto
Updated: April 18, 2023 07:15 IST
Russia invaded Ukraine, a sovereign and independent state, without any provocation. This aggression is a blatant violation of international law by a permanent member of the UN Security Council, contravening the basic tenets of the UN Charter. As such, it concerns the whole international community — it is about the kind of world we want to live in.
This illegal act has put the multilateral system under pressure like never before. Billions of people around the world are exposed to rising food prices and tensions on energy prices. Despite Russian propaganda, international sanctions have not triggered the food crisis.
European Union sanctions do not target the agricultural sector in Russia, nor prohibit the imports of Russian agricultural goods and fertilisers, nor the payment of such products. Russia has invaded the breadbasket of the world, turning the shipping lanes of the Black Sea into a war zone, while bombing storage facilities and blocking millions of tons of grain in Ukraine. At the same time, Russia has introduced restrictions and quotas for the export of its agri-food products.
Tensions on energy prices are also caused by Russia, as Moscow used energy as a weapon to try to blackmail Europe.
The international community must act collectively to address these challenges, provoked by Russia’s war. The quickest solution remains in the hands of the Russian leadership: They need to stop this senseless war and withdraw Russian forces from Ukraine, now. The G20 can play an important role under the leadership of India. As PM Modi said very poignantly: This is not the time for war.
In February 2023, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution with 141 states calling for an end to the war, demanding Russia’s immediate withdrawal from Ukraine, in line with the UN Charter. No member of the G20, apart from the aggressor, opposed the resolution. In March, at the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Delhi, a similar pattern emerged — all participants agreed on the text proposed by the Indian Presidency, except for Russia and China.
It beggars belief that Russia — the aggressor — claims to be the victim in these tragic circumstances, marked by death and destruction inflicted on a neighbour that posed no threat to Moscow. It is worth recalling that the International Court of Justice ordered Russia in March 2022 to immediately stop its “military operations’’ in Ukraine, and last month the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant against President Putin for the unlawful deportation of children from Ukraine.
We live in a volatile global economy and are facing the existential challenge of climate change. Against this background, Russia is playing havoc with the world’s economy.
The EU has been acting consistently to mitigate the consequences of Russia’s aggression. We have done so through a “triple strategy”: Supporting Ukraine, putting pressure on Russia, and helping the rest of the world cope with the fallout of the war.
We have established the EU-Ukraine solidarity lanes — corridors for Ukraine’s agricultural exports. We have supported the Black Sea Grain Initiative that facilitates the export of Ukraine’s agricultural products from its southern ports, despite Russia’s obstruction. We have provided emergency relief to those most in need, notably in Africa, and committed significant funds for food security. With the price cap coalition, we have set up a price cap for seaborne Russian oil. This is proving a valuable tool to cut Russia’s capacity to fund the war, while keeping oil flowing in global markets, thus mitigating adverse consequences for third countries.
Multilateralism requires respect for rules, based on shared principles. Whether you are strong or weak, the rules are binding on all. Today, the rules-based international system needs to be defended against Russia’s hegemonic aggression. We do not want to live in a world of “might makes right”, but one where strong institutions, agreed rules and international law form the basis for global cooperation.
These principles underpin EU’s contribution to international relations – for instance, Global Gateway, the EU’s 300-billion euro global investment programme for the next five years. Global Gateway is about state-of-the-art infrastructure, working with partners worldwide for a green and resilient future.
Cooperation with India is crucial in this respect. With the recently created EU-India Trade and Technology Council, we have agreed to work on areas such as resilient supply chains, connectivity and green technologies. The first EU-India Green Hydrogen Forum last September showed how together we can shape a greener energy mix for the world. We have learnt our lesson: We want reliable suppliers and forward-looking connections. We shall invest in renewable energy, transport corridors, and digital solutions that people can trust.
India has made the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals central to its G20 programme. We share the same priority. The EU and its member states count for one-third of all global spending on adaptation and climate policy; we are also the largest provider of official development aid, as we believe in multilateralism and solidarity.
The G20 has the responsibility to look for global solutions to global issues. Under the Indian Presidency, the EU will continue to support efforts to create an inclusive, digital and sustainable foundation for recovery and growth, leaving no one behind. However, there can be no future for multilateralism without respect for international law. No propaganda can hide obvious facts: A brutal Russian invasion, countless innocent victims, mounting evidence of war crimes, an imperial war of conquest aimed at denying the Ukrainian people the choice over their own future, their very right to exist. Russia unleashed its war against Ukraine thinking it could invade a peaceful neighbour, trample on its sovereignty and independence, and get away with it. It failed.
Multilateralism is about norms over force. We shall continue to stand with Ukraine and for the principles of the UN Charter.
Astuto is European Union Ambassador to India. Ambassadors and High Commissioners of the 27 EU Member States have co-authored this article
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