The United States and its western allies on Tuesday using G20 summit put pressure on Russia to end the Ukraine war, reports AFP.
They did it to pin painfully high global food and fuel prices squarely at President Vladimir Putin's table which escalates global pressure on him.
Eyeing a joint G20 declaration that would condemn Russia's eight-month-old invasion and threats to use nuclear weapons, US and European officials painted the summit in Bali as evidence of Russia's deepening isolation.
"I think you're going to see most members of the G20 make clear that they condemn Russia's war in Ukraine," a senior US official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
"Russia's war of aggression is being condemned in the strongest possible terms," adding that many "see Russia's war in Ukraine as the root source of immense economic and humanitarian suffering in the world."
It remained far from clear that Russia's G20 allies China, India and South Africa would sign up to language that would condemn Putin's war so explicitly.
Such a condemnation at the G20 would be a heavy diplomatic defeat for Moscow, which has been keen to paint opposition to the conflict as Western-dominated.
There was a hint at growing Chinese unease with Russia's prosecution of the war though when presidents Xi Jinping and Joe Biden met late Monday.
Both men voiced opposition to the "use or threat of use" of nuclear weapons in Ukraine, according to a White House account of the meeting.
European Council president Charles Michel signalled that while a draft agreement had been agreed to in principle, there was still work to be done.
"I am absolutely convinced that we should try to use the meeting today and tomorrow to convince all of the parties to put more pressure on Russia," he told media as the summit opened.
G20 leaders are gathered in Bali as soaring inflation drives millions more into poverty and tips several nations toward recession.
"Every household on the planet is feeling the impact of Putin's war," British officials said previewing Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's remarks.
US allies hope that argument finds favour with G20 nations that, while cautious about denouncing Russia, are deeply concerned about rising prices.
G20 members Argentina and Turkey are among the countries worst hit by food inflation, while India and South Africa have avoided criticism of Moscow.
Putin has decided to skip the summit as he deals with the fallout from a string of embarrassing battlefield defeats in a war that his supporters believed would be over in days.
Rubbing salt in the wound, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, fresh from a visit to liberated Kherson, will address G20 leaders in a video message.
Bd-prartidin/English
