Trudeau says G20 leaders’ language on Ukraine not strong enough

By Barry Ellsworth

TRENTON, Canada (AA) - A G20 statement issued by leaders was watered down and did not express strong enough support for Ukraine, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Tuesday at a G20 summit in Brazil.

As the Ukraine war reaches day 1,000, the G20 summit declaration touched on the Gaza Strip debacle, and social, economic and environment issues but failed to mention Russian aggression by name.

“Specifically concerning the war in Ukraine, while recalling our discussions in New Delhi, we highlight the human suffering and negative added impacts of the war with regard to global food and energy security, supply chains, macro-financial stability, inflation and growth,” said the declaration.

Trudeau balked at the wording, saying the reference was “not strong enough for me.”

He told reporters that Canada and other G7 countries wanted a more muscular response to “the illegal invasion of Ukraine.”

The G20 roundly condemned Russia in 2022 for its incursion on Ukraine’s territory and insisted Moscow withdraw.

Trudeau said he stands with American President Joe Biden who days ago gave Ukraine the go-ahead to strike Russia with long-range missiles supplied by the US

"I have, for months now, talked about how important it is to degrade the capacity of the Russian military to strike into Ukraine with impunity because Ukraine hasn't been able to strike on factories and military production sites in Russia," Trudeau said at a news conference in Rio de Janeiro, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported.​​​​​​​

He expressed concern that, under President-elect Donald Trump, who has been critical of the financial support given to Ukraine, American support could be drastically reduced when he takes office in January.