President Joe Biden called on Thursday for the removal of Russia from the G20, and for Ukraine to be able to attend G20 meetings, despite not being part of that group. He also said that the "food shortages are gonna be real," as regards the consequences of war between two of the world's largest wheat producers, and the sanctions imposed on Russia.
"Do you think that Russia needs to be removed from the G20?" Biden was asked by a reporter.
"My answer is yes," Biden said. "Depends on the G20. That was raised today."
"And I raised the possibility if that can't be done, if Indonesia and others do not agree, then we should, in my view, ask to have both Ukraine be able to attend the meetings, as well as basically Ukraine being able to attend the G20 meetings and observe," Biden said.
Biden was in Europe this week to discuss the recent but ongoing conflict after Russia invaded Ukraine more than three weeks ago. Vice President Kamala Harris was in Europe last week.
Biden has said outright that the US and NATO would not establish a no-fly zone over Ukraine as that would have the potential to lead to outright conflict with Russia. The White House has inflicted heavy economic sanctions against Russia.
Biden was asked about the success of these sanctions, "deterrence didn't work," a reporter began, "what makes you think Vladimir Putin will alter course based on the action you've taken today?"
"Let's get something straight," Biden replied. "You've been covering me from the very beginning. I did not say that, in fact, the sanctions would deter him. Sanctions never deter. You keep talking about that. Sanctions never deterred. The maintenance of sanctions, the maintenance of sanctions, increasing the pain and the demonstration. Why I asked for this NATO meeting today is to be sure that after a month we will sustain what we're doing not just next month, the following month, but for the remainder of this entire year. That's what will stop him."
When pressed, Biden said "we have to demonstrate the purpose, the single most important thing is for us to stay unified. And the world to continue to focus on what a brute this guy is, and all the innocent people's lives that will be lost and ruined, and what's going on. That's the important thing.
"But look," he went on, "if you're Putin, and you think that Europe is going to crack and a month or six weeks or two months, why not? They can take anything for another month. But we have to demonstrate, the reason I asked for the meeting. We have to stay fully totally thoroughly united."
When asked if Ukraine would have to cede territory to Russia in order to negotiate for a ceasefire and an end to the conflict, Biden said "that is a total judgment based on Ukraine."
"Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine," he said. "I don't believe that they're going to have to do that. But that's a judgment. There's negotiations that are, discussions I should say, that have taken place that I have not been part of including Ukrainians. And it's their judgement to make."
The G20, founded in 1999, "is a strategic multilateral platform connecting the world’s major developed and emerging economies. The G20 holds a strategic role in securing future global economic growth and prosperity. Together, the G20 members represent more than 80 percent of world GDP, 75 percent of international trade and 60 percent of the world population."
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