Absent Putin and Ukraine war cast long shadow over G20

G20 Leaders' Summit: Russia-Ukraine war, China's absence to dominate proceedings. Global South chairing G20, allowing for progress on debt treatments, climate financing, despite disagreements. Fragmenting global governance, G20 may be best hope for progress on urgent matters.

The leaders of Russia and China are skipping the G20 summit, but their absence — and rifts over the Ukraine war — will have a big influence on the proceedings.

Russian President Vladimir Putin won’t be at the G20 Leaders' Summit, but he and the Russia-Ukraine war are likely to have a bigger effect on outcomes than even the lack of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Days before world leaders prepared to gather in New Delhi for the summit September 9-10, news emerged that China’s leader had decided not to attend. Xi’s absence will undoubtedly stifle progress on the many issues plaguing the global economy.

However, it’s Putin and the war in Ukraine that is likely to dominate proceedings and hamper progress on urgent matters before the G20.

With Russia a member, this is not surprising. But the G20’s make-up — consisting of Western states and leading nations from the Global South — has made it even more difficult for the organisation to function effectively.

The G20 is much more than just an annual two-day Leaders' Summit. Most of its work happens in the background, through networks of technocrats and policymakers, who can find ways to resolve problems, even when relations between their leaders deteriorate.