Emmanuel Macron on the surface of the collected photo

JOHANNESBURG, Nov 22, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - The G20 group of major world economies 
is "at risk" as it struggles to tackle international crises, French President 
Emmanuel Macron told a summit boycotted by the United States Saturday.

Macron was among two dozen world leaders at South Africa's G20 summit marked 
by the absence of President Donald Trump, who is at loggerheads with Pretoria 
on a range of issues.

"The G20 may be coming to the end of a cycle," the French leader told the 
gathering in Johannesburg.

"We are living in a moment of geopolitics in which we are struggling to 
resolve major crises together around this table, including with members who 
are not present today," Macron said.

He referred specifically to a new unilateral US plan to end the war in 
Ukraine that accepts some of Russia's hardline demands.

European leaders in Johannesburg met on the sidelines of the G20 to discuss 
counter-proposals.

"There can be no peace in Ukraine without Ukrainians, without respect for 
their sovereignty," Macron repeated.

The G20 is made up of 19 countries, including Russia, as well as the European 
Union and African Union regional groupings.

It was struggling to establish common ground on issues such as humanitarian 
law and sovereignty, Macron said.

World leaders needed to acknowledge that "the G20 is at risk if we do not 
collectively re-engage around a few priorities," Macron said.

"We must absolutely demonstrate that we have concrete actions to re-engage 
this forum and provide responses for our economies collectively around this 
table," Macron said.