G20: Under pressure

Ukraine and Russia

A rift was growing between Britain and key allies as European diplomats pushed back on calls for a firmer response to Russia’s naval clash with Ukraine. The fracture in the alliance sets the stage for tense exchanges when European, US and Russian leaders meet. Britain, Poland and the Baltic states have urged other members of the EU-28 to impose extra measures when existing sanctions against Russia are renewed in December. The calls have been backed by the US, which demanded that European countries tighten sanctions and rethink Nord Stream-2, an undersea gas pipeline linking Russia with Germany. France and Germany, which brokered a ceasefire and tentative peace accord between Russia and Ukraine in 2015, are understood to fear such a move could split the bloc and further inflame tensions. EU countries including Italy, Greece, Bulgaria and Cyprus want a softer stance on Russia and are sceptical about sanctions.

Global issues

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has a message for the leaders : Take stronger leadership and bolder action to tackle critical problems from climate change to inequality at a time the world is facing “a crisis of confidence”. “Those left behind by globalisation are losing trust in governments and institutions,” he warned. He said inequality is “pervasive and increasing,” trade disputes are escalating, and geopolitical tensions “are adding further pressure to the global economy”. In addition, Guterres said: “We are headed for a world of cataclysm and uncertainty due to climate disruption. The social, economic and environmental costs of climate change dwarf the costs of acting now. Failure to act means more disasters and emergencies and air pollution that could cost the global economy as much as US$21 trillion by 2050.”