French President Emmanuel Macron said today that the G20, which was set up to resolve international economic rather than political issues, it is not necessarily the place where one might expect diplomatic progress to be made on the issue of the war in Ukraine.

He added that the G20 leaders’ declaration after the summit this weekend does not constitute a diplomatic victory for Russia, which was isolated in the session.

The declaration, which was adopted yesterday Saturday, avoids condemning Russia for the war in Ukraine but it highlights the suffering that violence has caused to people and calls on all states not to use violence to seize land.

“This G20 confirms once again Russia’s isolation. Today, an overwhelming majority of G20 members condemn the war in Ukraine and its consequences,” Macron told a news conference after the summit’s closing ceremony.

Regarding the climate, Macron judged that the results of the G20 summit were “inadequate” and “called everyone to be vigilant” about the need to set more ambitious goals, especially for the exit from oil.

The final communiqué of the leaders of major and emerging powers who met in India at the weekend did not call for an exit from fossil fuels, contrary to the hopes of many observers.

“It is insufficient,” the French president admitted.

“And for my part I am very concerned about the spirit that is starting to prevail, including among G20 members, on the climate issue,” he added, speaking to reporters, less than three months before COP28.

“I’m sounding the alarm to everyone, we’re not there yet,” he insisted, saying he heard “a very facile conversation that has prevailed among some emerging countries that only the richest countries are responsible.”

Emmanuel Macron called for “getting out of coal very quickly and much faster than today”, from “2030”, but also “as soon as possible from oil”, “well before 2050”.

“The richer countries must make the effort, we are in the process of doing it, it costs us,” “but we are doing it, it is legitimate and normal,” he said, while asking emerging countries, especially oil producers, to do the their debt.