The key facts

  • Sergey Lavrov said that Poland's invitation to the G20 violates the principles of multilateral diplomacy
  • According to him, Warsaw does not qualify for the group by the size of its economy
  • Russia intends to push for the G20's return to a consensus-based operation

Criticism from Moscow

Poland's invitation to join the G20 violates the principles of diplomacy. This assessment was given by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, commenting on US plans to include the country among the permanent members of the group, reports Interfax (as cited by Gazeta.Ru).

The essence of the objections

“The Americans simply invited the Polish minister, he came and sat in the chair they had placed for him. Of course, this violates the principles of diplomacy, and especially multilateral diplomacy, when members of groupings such as the G20 work on the basis of consensus,” Lavrov said. In his view, Warsaw adds nothing to the G20, including because it does not qualify for membership by the size of its economy. The minister added that Russia will try to “fix the situation and return the work of the Group of 20 to a consensus track.” He also noted that Russia has not faced pressure over Washington's plans.

Context

In September, Polish President Karol Nawrocki statedthat Poland should be admitted to the G20. On the eve of Lavrov's statement, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova called awkward Poland's participation in the group's ministerial meeting. Thus, Warsaw's invitation has already drawn a series of critical comments from Russian diplomacy, and Lavrov's position adds a ministerial-level assessment to it.