The day after Moscow endorsed the G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration, which notably omitted any mention of Russia while advocating for peace in Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov characterized the Summit as an unequivocal success and a significant breakthrough that offers a path forward to address global challenges.

During a press briefing, Lavrov commended the Global South, highlighting their reluctance to be lectured by others. He described the Summit as a turning point and a milestone, emphasizing the leadership role played by the Global South in shaping the discussions.

Lavrov also mentioned his involvement in finalizing the declaration, a process that transpired behind closed doors, akin to the election of a Pope, albeit without the traditional smoke signal. He acknowledged the diligent efforts of the Sherpas, particularly Svetlana Lukash, and their teams.

India's role in preventing the Western approach on various issues, including Ukraine, was lauded by Lavrov. He credited the New Delhi Summit with setting a course toward fairness in global governance and finance, expressing gratitude to India for averting attempts to politicize the G20. Lavrov suggested that the West's hegemony is being challenged as new centers of power emerge on the global stage.

Regarding the challenge of climate change, Lavrov criticized Western powers for failing to fulfill their promise of providing $100 billion annually to developing countries to address climate change-related issues.