Together, the members of the G20 account for two-thirds of the world’s population and 90% of its economic output. As a forum for economic cooperation it matters. Suspending or expelling Russia from membership would be a major step. 

One G20 leader — Scott Morrison, the Prime Minister of Australia — has already suggested that Russia’s membership should be reconsidered. 

There is a precedent. In 1997, the G7 became the G8 when Russia was invited to join as a full member. However, that came to an end in 2014 when Russia was suspended following the annexation of Crimea. The G8 subsequently reverted to its previous name. 

In theory, the G20 could follow suit and become the G19. However, the organisation operates on the basis of consensus. Unlike the G7, the G20 is not a western club, so achieving unanimity is unlikely — especially with China as a member. 

But there might be another way. Half the G20 members — the G7 nations, Australia, South Korea and the European Union — can be counted as western democracies. If they were to collectively boycott any meeting at which Russia is present, then the G20 would effectively cease to function. Other members might also join in. Of this group of ten, six (Argentina, Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and Turkey) voted against Russia in this week’s UN vote on Ukraine (China, India and South Africa abstained). 

In other spheres — especially culture and sport — the boycott threat has proven effective in persuading reluctant international bodies to act against Russia.

Finally, it’s worth remembering that a founding purpose of the G20 was to facilitate global cooperation on financial stability. The organisation was created to help prevent events like the 1997 Asian financial crisis. However, several of its member states are now engaged in a financial war. As a response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the western countries are deliberately destabilising Russia’s banking system and therefore its entire economy. 

In this respect, the G20 has already ceased to function. 

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Peter Franklin is Associate Editor of UnHerd. He was previously a policy advisor and speechwriter on environmental and social issues.

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