JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — Russia denounced sanctions and asset seizures imposed after its invasion of Ukraine as “illegitimate and unilateral actions” during the opening session of the G20 summit on Saturday.
Speaking for the Russian delegation, Maxim Oreshkin, deputy chief of staff of the Russian Presidential Executive Office, also criticised international financial aid to Ukraine. He argued that global institutions were “deviating from development finance to military expenditures,” claiming that funds often return to Western economies through corruption schemes.
“The World Bank, for example, has provided Ukraine with more aid in three years than to all African countries combined,” Oreshkin said.
Putin Absent
Oreshkin is leading Russia’s delegation in the absence of President Vladimir Putin, who faces an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) over the alleged deportation and transfer of children from Ukraine to Russia. Putin could be detained if he entered South Africa.
Economic Order in Crisis
Oreshkin added that the international economic order is “in crisis” and no longer reflects new and emerging realities.
U.S. Peace Plan
The remarks come as U.S. President Donald Trump advances a controversial peace proposal to end the war in Ukraine. According to a draft, the plan would cede land to Russia and limit the size of Ukraine’s military — terms firmly rejected by Kyiv.