Good morning, readers!

Trust you had an exciting weekend. If you didn’t know, the G20 summit just happened in India. In a nutshell, it felt very eventful AND uneventful at the same time.

You will see what we mean…

Today’s geopolitics hotspots:

Key takeaways from G20 summit: mixed bag?

The summit kicked off with the adoption of the Delhi Declaration, showcasing unity while also revealing differences in viewpoints on various issues.

Here are the key takeaways:

🕊️ A softer stance on Ukraine.

• The G20 nations came together in agreement that forcibly seizing territory is unacceptable, while also highlighting the difficulties faced by Ukrainians.

• However, they avoided explicitly pointing fingers at Russia for the conflict. For more details, refer to Nikolenko's post below.

• This stands in contrast to last year’s position, where they openly blasted Russia and demanded its immediate withdrawal from Ukraine.

Here’s what the spokesperson for Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had to say about it:

🌍 African Union joins the club.

The G20 invited the African Union as a full member, pledging to protect the world's most vulnerable while bolstering economic stability.

🚂 Challenging China.

• Leaders from the US, EU, India, and Saudi Arabia unveiled a massive plan to establish rail and port links between the Middle East and South Asia, eventually extending to Europe.

• This is seen as an attempt by the US to counter China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

🌿 Progress on climate change.

• The G20 leaders failed to agree on a target for phasing out fossil-fuels.

• However, they acknowledged the need need to “purse and encourage” efforts to triple renewable energy capacity globally by 2030.

🎯 Shifting tides.

This summit reflects the quickly shifting dynamics of global power.

• The invitation of the African Union and the new transport corridor initiative signal a move towards greater inclusivity and partnership.

• However, the softer stance on Ukraine and lack of decisive action on climate change highlight ongoing challenges.

🇮🇳 Oh and…

As we discussed last week, Modi sat behind a placard that had “Bharat” on it, instead of India.

🌟 Today’s gem

Quick updates

Click the country's name for more.👇🏻

🇧🇷 Brazil:

Putin’s safe from arrest at the 2024 G20 summit in Brazil.

President Lula has invited the Russian leader to join the G20 summit in Rio next year, assuring him that he will be protected from the ICC charges. This move has ruffled some feathers in the West and in South America, with the US accusing him of being “parroting Russian and Chinese propaganda.”

Here is the interview.

🇷🇺 Russia:

Putin’s party sweeps regional elections in Ukraine’s annexed territories.

Putin’s United Russia party has claimed over 70% of the vote in Ukraine’s war-ravaged territories of:

• Donetsk,

• Luhansk,

• Zaporizhia,

• Kherson.

While Russia hails these elections as a beacon of fairness, critics are pointing out widespread allegations of vote rigging—even going as far to say:

🇺🇦 Ukraine:

Russia unleashes drone swarm on Ukrainian capital.

It was a night of terror for the residents of Kyiv, who woke up to the sound of explosions and the sight of fireballs in the sky. Ukraine’s air force managed to shoot down 26 out of 33 Iranian-made drones, but not before they caused damage across several districts.

🇰🇵 North Korea:

Kim Jong Un takes a train ride to Russia.

North Korea’s dictator Kim Jong Un is believed to be chugging his way to Russia for a face-to-face with Putin. This potential meeting, rumoured to kick off as early as Tuesday, could be a discussion about a strategic exchange: North Korean artillery for Russian energy, food, and advanced weapons technologies.

🇮🇹 Italy:

The only G7 country to join the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is having second thoughts. 

Italy’s PM, Giorgia Meloni, dropped hints about a potential break-up with China’s BRI. This could be music to the ears of Italy’s Western allies, who’ve been eyeing China’s growing influence with unease. But it’s also a risky move that might just turn up the heat with Beijing.