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Russia's isolation tested at G20 and in Riga
Summary
A walkout in Washington, a German energy pledge and Chinese support for Moscow showed how differently states were treating Russia in April 2022.
What did it mean when finance ministers walked out on Russia? On 21 April 2022, the previous day's events at the G20 in Washington were still being digested, alongside two other signals about Russia's standing.
According to a person familiar with the closed meeting, finance ministers from many countries, including the United States and several European states, left the session on 20 April as Russia's finance minister, Anton Siluanov, began reading his prepared remarks virtually. The walkout followed a call by the US president, Joe Biden, to exclude Russia from the G20. Such a step requires the agreement of all members, and China appeared unwilling to approve it.
Germany sets a deadline
Also on 20 April, Germany's foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, speaking at a press conference in Riga with her Baltic counterparts, announced plans to stop importing Russian oil and energy. She said oil imports would be halved by the summer and brought to zero by the end of the year, and that Germany would give up Russian energy imports entirely.
Beijing leans in
On 19 April, China's deputy foreign minister, Le Yucheng, said Beijing was strengthening its strategic ties with Russia and confirmed support for President Vladimir Putin, at a time when Russian forces faced accusations of war crimes over the killing of civilians.
The picture
Taken together, the reports pointed to a divide. Western finance ministers were willing to show disapproval in person, and Berlin was setting a date for ending its energy dependence. China, whose agreement exclusion from the G20 would need, was publicly deepening its partnership with Moscow.
