Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov appeared to flaunt their countries’ friendly relations with a bold fashion statement at the G20 summit today – as Russia steps up its missile strikes on the Ukraine.
The pair arrived at a leaders’ welcome dinner, hosted by Indonesian President Joko Widodo, dressed in bright purple floral shirts.
It came after Lavrov was condemned by world leaders for Russia’s aggressive actions in Ukraine, with more than 100 missiles fired into the country by Putin’s forces today alone.
Meanwhile, China refused to condemn the ongoing Russian invasion at the summit and opposed 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 Indonesian President Joko Widodo and his wife Iriana Widodo, who also wore traditional clothing
President Xi’s wife Peng Liyuan also donned a purple lotus flower and purple shawl to match her husband’s bright shirt.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi (left) shows off Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at the G20 leaders welcome dinner
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Canadian Justin Trudeau also donned the same red tops as each other – a nod to traditional Batik shirts which are formal wear in Indonesia.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, second from right, and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, right, laugh as they join others during the G20 Leaders Dinner at Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park, Badung, Bali , Indonesia
Xi and Lavrov’s matching outfits may have left politicians a little embarrassed as they arrived at the event, but they weren’t the only attendees wearing nearly identical shirts.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Canadian Justin Trudeau also donned the same red tops as each other – a nod to the brightly colored traditional Batik shirts that are formal wear in Indonesia.
The heads of state posed together in their vibrant outfits as they made their way to the official dinner after the first full day of summit meetings.
The show of unity between NATO leaders Sunak and Trudeau comes as Russia steps up its aggression in Ukraine with missiles raining across the country today.
Lavrov has been condemned for Russia’s actions in Ukraine by world leaders for his aggressive actions in Ukraine
Firefighters work at the scene of a missile attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, which was hit by Russian rockets hours after President Zelensky’s speech at the G20
More than 100 rockets were fired at cities across the country, hitting civilian buildings and power plants, the Ukrainian Air Force said.
Reports have now emerged that two people have been killed by an explosion across the border in Poland, in what is believed to be a botched Russian missile attack.
It came just hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky – speaking via video link from Kyiv – told world leaders he was ready to end the war on the condition that Russia withdraw its troops from the areas it currently occupies.
The British prime minister confronted the Russian 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 official since the start of the war, Mr Sunak said Putin’s regime had made Russia a pariah.
President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the G20 hours before the missiles hit, calling on Russia to end its invasion of his country
He said it was unacceptable for any country to invade its neighbours, kill civilians and threaten nuclear war, adding the UK would support Ukraine “for as long as it takes”.
But Lavrov hit back, peddling Kremlin propaganda that the West was responsible for Ukraine’s “hybrid war” and that Kyiv’s “unreasonable demands” are to blame for “dragging it on”.
Speaking later at the summit, Lavrov accused the West of waging a “hybrid war” in Ukraine and Kyiv of “prolonging” the conflict, without mentioning Russia’s own involvement in the fighting.
Mr Sunak confronted Lavrov around a conference table, the first time a British prime minister and a senior Russian leader have met since the start of the war.
Mr Sunak (centre) told Lavrov (left) that it was ‘notable’ that Vladimir Putin did not feel capable of confronting the international community himself after the invasion
China was one of 14 countries to vote against a United Nations resolution calling on Russia to pay war reparations to Ukraine yesterday.
President Xi looked in high spirits as he attended tonight’s dinner at Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park in Bali.
His wife Peng Liyuan also donned a purple lotus flower and purple shawl to match her husband’s bright shirt, after spending the day viewing an exhibition of traditional Indonesian fabrics as part of the G20 joint programs.
The couple were welcomed to dinner by the Indonesian president and his wife Iriana Widodo, who also wore traditional clothes.
US President Joe Biden unexpectedly pulled out of the extravagant meal hosted for world leaders, with officials offering little explanation for his absence.
