Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (LF) meets his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi in Denpasar [Russian Foreign Ministry handout]

NUSA DUA, Indonesia: On Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told leaders of the world's wealthiest nations that the time had come to put an end to Russia's war in his country through a peace plan he had proposed.

He spoke via video link to leaders of the Group of 20 (G20) nations gathered on the Indonesian island of Bali for a summit overshadowed by the Ukraine conflict and concerns about global inflation, and food and energy security.

"Please choose your path for leadership - and together we will surely implement the peace formula," he said.
Zelenskiy advocated for the restoration of "radiation safety" at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. He also advocated for price controls on Russian energy resources.

"Please choose your path for leadership - and together we will surely implement the peace formula," he said.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo has called for global unity and action to repair the global economy. "There is no other choice; collaboration is required to save the world," he said.

The G20, which includes countries ranging from Brazil to India, Saudi Arabia, and Germany, accounts for more than 80% of the global GDP, 75% of global trade, and 60% of the global population.

A three-hour bilateral meeting between US President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping on the eve of the summit was a positive sign, with the two leaders promising more frequent communications.

The talks appear to signal an improvement in relations between the superpowers after a downward spiral in recent months.

The G20 meeting is being held for the first time since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February, which Moscow has described as a "special military operation."

Some Western leaders have called for a boycott of the summit and the withdrawal of Russian President Vladimir Putin's invitation as a result of the war.

Indonesia resisted, refusing to withdraw Putin's invitation and also rejecting G7 pressure to condemn Russia at the summit this week, according to Indonesian sources.

Russia has stated that Putin is too preoccupied to attend the two-day event in Bali.

On Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov denied a news agency report that he was taken to a hospital in Bali with a heart condition and was present at the meeting. However, it was unclear whether he remained in the room while Zelenskiy delivered his speech.

A joint G20 communique, which would require unanimous agreement from all parties, appears unlikely. According to diplomatic sources, Indonesia is instead pushing for a leaders' declaration. On Monday evening, European Council President Charles Michel announced that officials had reached an agreement on a text communique. According to an early draft of a communique, G20 leaders will condemn the use of nuclear weapons.

However, such a communique would require a confirmation from the leaders.

The G20 ministerial meetings have failed to produce a joint communiqué due to language differences between Russia and other members, including how to describe the conflict in Ukraine.

Vice-President Joe Biden will be "unapologetic" in his defence of Ukraine, U.S. officials have said. The G20 will make clear that Russia's war is wreaking havoc for people everywhere and for the global economy as a whole, they say.

China has been careful not to provide Russia with material support that could trigger sanctions. The West has accused Russia of making irresponsible statements on the use of nuclear weapons since its invasion of Ukraine.

The meeting comes as China tries to reduce frictions with the United States, its allies, and other countries involved in the US-led trade war.

Many of the leaders will hold bilateral talks on the sidelines of the summit, including several meetings with Xi, who is making only his second overseas visit since the pandemic began.

Following his meeting with Macron, Xi will meet with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, and

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, as China seeks to reduce tensions with the US and its allies.

"It is not decisive, but it is an important step toward reducing disagreements," said Shi Yinhong, an international relations professor at Beijing's Renmin University.