Monitoring Desk
BANGKOK: The 21 members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation issued their statement on Saturday, saying “most” of them condemned the war.
The Asia-Pacific leaders denounced Russia over its invasion of Ukraine and the economic chaos it has caused in a joint statement released in Bangkok.
APEC Members Agree on the Communique
All APEC members agreed on the summit communiqué, including Russia and China, which has refrained from publicly criticizing Moscow for the invasion.
Most members vehemently denounced the war in Ukraine, emphasizing that it is inflicting great human suffering and escalating already difficult conditions in the global economy.
The APEC statement lamented the war’s “immense human suffering” and its impact on economic development, inflation, supply chains, and energy and food security.
The United States and its allies used last week’s G20 conference to extend the coalition against President Vladimir Putin’s incursion and debunk Kremlin claims of an East-West conflict.
Russia-Ukraine Conflict: Putin Refuses to Attend APEC Summit
While his military campaign was failing in the face of Ukrainian opposition bolstered by Western support, Putin refused to attend the G20 or APEC summits. The Russian President had sent his deputy prime minister to Bangkok and foreign minister to Bali.
Moscow launched a barrage of missile assaults across Ukraine this week after they lost Kherson in one of the worst defeats since their invasion in February.
Millions of citizens in Ukraine are now without electricity as winter sets in and the temperatures drop.
