Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov appeared to display their countries’ friendly relations with a bold fashion statement at the G20 summit today – as Russia ramps up its missile strikes on Ukraine.
The two men arrived at a leaders’ welcome dinner, which was hosted by the Indonesian President Joko Widodo, in eye-catching bright purple floral shirts.
It came after Lavrov faced condemnation from world leaders for Russia’s aggressive actions in Ukraine, with over 100 missiles fired on the country by Putin’s forces today alone.
Meanwhile, China refused to condemn the ongoing Russian invasion at the summit and objected to calling it a ‘war’ in a joint statement with other G20 states.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (left) appeared to display their countries’ friendly relations with a bold fashion statement at the G20 summit today
The couple were greeted by the Indonesian President Joko Widodo and his wife Iriana Widodo, who also wore traditional attire
President Xi’s wife Peng Liyuan also donned a purple lotus flower and a purple shawl to match her husband’s bright shirt
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi (left) shows Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov into the G20leaders’ welcome dinner
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Canada’s Justin Trudeau also donned the same red tops as each other – a nod to the traditional Batik shirts which are formal attire in Indonesia
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, second from right, and Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, right, share a laugh as they join others during the G20 Leaders’ Dinner at the Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park, in Badung, Bali, Indonesia
Xi and Lavrov’s matching outfits may have left the politicians a little embarrassed as they arrived at the event, but they were not the only attendees to be wearing almost identical shirts.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Canada’s Justin Trudeau also donned the same red tops as each other – a nod to the traditional brightly-coloured Batik shirts which are formal attire in Indonesia.
The state leaders posed together in their vibrant outfits as they made their way into the formal dinner after the full first day of meetings at the summit.
The show of unity between NATO leaders Sunak and Trudeau comes as Russia has been stepping up its aggression in Ukraine with missiles raining down across the country today.
Lavrov faced condemnation for Russia’s actions in Ukraine from world leaders for its aggressive actions in Ukraine
Firefighters work at the scene of a missile attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, which was struck by Russian rockets hours after President Zelensky spoke at the G20
More than 100 rockets were fired at cities across the country, hitting civilian buildings and power stations, the Ukrainian air force said.
Reports have now emerged that two people were killed by an explosion across the border in Poland, in what is thought to be a botched Russian missile attack.
It came just hours after Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky – speaking via videolink from Kyiv – told world leaders that he is ready to end the war provided Russia withdraws its troops from areas it currently occupies.
Britain’s Prime Minister confronted Russia’s Foreign Minister at the G20 summit, telling him to ‘get out of Ukraine and end this barbaric war’.
In the first face-to-face clash between a British Prime Minister and a senior Kremlin figure since the war began, Mr Sunak said the Putin regime had turned Russia into a pariah.
President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the G20 just hours before the missiles hit, calling on Russia to end its invasion of his country
He said it is unacceptable for any country to invade its neighbours, kill civilians and threaten nuclear war, adding the UK will back Ukraine for ‘as long as it takes’.
But Lavrov hit back, peddling Kremlin propaganda that the West was responsible for waging ‘hybrid warfare’ in Ukraine and that Kyiv’s ‘unreasonable demands’ are to blame for ‘dragging it out’.
Speaking later at the summit Lavrov accused the West of waging ‘hybrid war’ in Ukraine and Kyiv of ‘prolonging’ the conflict, without mentioning Russia’s own involvement in the fighting.
Mr Sunak faced off with Lavrov across a conference table, the first time a British Prime Minister and senior Russian leader have come face-to-face since the war began
Mr Sunak (centre) told Lavrov (left) that it was ‘notable’ Vladimir Putin did not feel he could face the international community himself following the invasion
China was one of 14 countries to vote against a United Nations resolution calling for Russia to pay war reparations to Ukraine yesterday.
President Xi looked in good spirits as he attended tonight’s dinner at the Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park in Bali.
His wife Peng Liyuan also donned a purple lotus flower and a purple shawl to match her husband’s bright shirt, after she spent the day looking at a traditional Indonesian fabric exhibition as part of the G20 spouse programs.
The couple were greeted to dinner by the Indonesian President and his wife Iriana Widodo, who also wore traditional attire.
US President Joe Biden unexpectedly pulled out of the extravagant meal put on for world leaders, with officials offering little explanation as to why he did not attend.
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