INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
of nearly nine months of conflict.A draft communique obtained by AFP showed the world's 20 leading economies coming together to condemn the
use or threat of use of nuclear weapons" is "inadmissible," after months of President Vladimir Putin making such threats.The embattled
Russian leader has skipped the summit, staying at home to reckon with a string of embarrassing battlefield defeats and a grinding campaign
Biden that they could "save thousands of lives" by pressing for a Russian withdrawal."I am convinced now is the time when the Russian
destructive war must and can be stopped," he said, sporting his now-trademark army-green T-shirt.Putin's delegate, Foreign Minister Sergei
Lavrov, whose summit preparation was disrupted by two hospital health checks for an undiagnosed ailment, remained in the room throughout
Zelensky's address, diplomatic sources said.His most notable diplomatic victory was an acknowledgment in the communique that while "most
members" of the G20 condemned Putin's invasion, "there were other views and different assessments.""All problems are with the Ukrainian
side, which is categorically refusing negotiations and putting forward conditions that are obviously unrealistic," Lavrov told
replete with diplomatic fudges and linguistic gymnastics.But it gives a growing sense of the worldwide impact of the war.G20 members
Argentina and Turkey are among the nations worst hit by food inflation worldwide, but there was scarcely a country around the table
death broker lethal arms sales, but in the southern hemisphere food is costly or scarce -- what kills are not bullets or missiles, but
late Monday."It's clear that the Russians are very isolated," said one Western official
I did not see any gestures of great solidarity."Grain corridorA deal expiring Saturday that allows Ukraine to export grain through the Black
Sea is a focus of summit conversations, with leaders expected to urge its "full, timely and continued implementation."Ukraine is one of the
world's top grain producers, and the Russian invasion blocked 20 million tons of grain in its ports before the United Nations and Turkey
brokered the deal in July.The summit build-up focused heavily on Xi, who is making only his second overseas trip since the pandemic began
and has stolen the spotlight as leaders line up to speak with him.Xi and Biden cooled Cold War rhetoric during three hours of talks on
Monday, taking some of the heat out of their simmering rivalry."The world expects that China and the United States will properly handle the
declaring the strategic rivalry over
