Russia-Ukraine conflict to play big role at G20 meet, India says

INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
NEW DELHI: Foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra said on Wednesday that the Russia-Ukraine conflict will be a crucial topic at the G20 foreign
ministers meeting
However, he declined to speculate on whether the G20 foreign ministers' meeting would produce a joint communique, given the widening
differences between the West and Russia regarding the Ukraine conflict."It would not be correct to prejudge the outcome of the meeting,"
Kwatra said at a press conference.Kwatra emphasized that issues such as food, energy, and fertilizer security, along with the conflict's
impact on these concerns, will also be given due consideration.However, the Ukraine conflict is expected to be a significant point of
contention between the West and Russia-China, even as India makes all efforts to achieve a joint statement following the critical
meeting.Kwatra said that this meeting would be the largest gathering of foreign ministers hosted by any G20 presidency, with approximately
40 delegations, including 13 from international organizations, expected to participate.G20 foreign ministers meet tomorrow: Would not be
correct to prejudge the outcome, says Vinay Mohan KwatraUS secretary of state Antony Blinken, Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov,
France's Catherine Colonna, Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang, Germany's Annalena Baerbock, and British foreign secretary James Cleverly are
among those attending the meeting hosted by India, along with foreign ministers of non-G20 countries, such as Sri Lanka and Bangladesh,
following India's invitation as guests.The event will take place in New Delhi, with discussions held on Thursday after a welcome dinner the
previous day.The G20 includes affluent nations like the G7, Russia, China, India, Brazil, Australia, and Saudi Arabia, among others
Rising tensions between the US and China are expected to be addressed, along with a clear message on terrorism, and the role of
cryptocurrencies.This meeting follows the finance chiefs of the G20 countries meeting in Bengaluru, which was overshadowed by the ongoing
Russia-Ukraine conflict.