Finance ministers and central banks of the G20 countries (G20) could not come to a consensus on how to characterize it war in Ukraine and will likely end their meeting in India today without issuing a joint statement, officials said.

The United States and its G7 alliesG7) of the more advanced industrialized countries appear to be indifferent to demands that a joint communiqué directly condemn Russia for invading a neighboring country, which the Russian and Chinese delegations oppose, officials said.

Russia, which is part of it G20refers to his military actions in Ukraine, using the term “special military operation”, does not speak of either an invasion or a war.

India, the host country of the meetings, is also pressuring attendees not to use the word “war” in any announcement, they said in Reuters G20 officials. India Alternating Presidency G20largely maintained a neutral stance in the war, avoiding accusing Russia of an invasion, seeking a diplomatic solution, and greatly increasing purchases of Russian oil.

Russia and China block Western proposals

French finance minister bruno Lemaire stated that the Group would never deviate from the joint statement agreed upon at its meeting. G20 in Bali, Indonesia, in November last year, saying that “the majority of participants strongly condemn the war in Ukraine,” but admitting that some countries see things differently.

“Either we speak the same language, or we do not sign the final communiqué,” Mr. Lemaire reporters yesterday.

German finance minister Christian Lindnerspeaking on the sidelines of the meeting yesterday, stated that G20 she must not abandon her earlier criticism of Russia.

“We need absolute clarity, this war was started (by the President of Russia). Vladimir) Putin,” he said.

High quality source from G20 he said the communiqué negotiations were difficult as Russia and China blocked Western proposals. “India wants the Balinese wording to be retained,” the source said.

That source and several other officials said that unless something unexpected happened at the last minute, a consensus on a communiqué was unlikely to be reached and that the meeting would likely end with a host country statement summarizing what had been discussed.

“In the absence of consensus, India may issue a presidency statement,” one official said.

^{Source: APE-MEB, Reuters}