India Turns Optimistic On Forging G-20 Consensus On Russia's War

India's top G-20 negotiator, Amitabh Kant, said on Thursday that the group still isn't close to reaching a settlement over the language in a joint statement at the leaders meeting in September.

India is turning more optimistic about achieving a consensus from Group of 20 nations on the language used to describe Russia's war in Ukraine, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Representatives from various countries have stayed in the same room in recent meetings, marking a contrast with the regular walkouts during similar talks last year in Indonesia, said the person, who asked not to be identified as the meetings are private. That has raised hopes for some sort of a compromise similar to that achieved last November on the resort island of Bali, the person said, adding that any escalation of the war could upset this fragile balance.

India, which is set to host the annual G-20 summit in September, is under pressure to show it can forge an agreement after two major meetings ended this year ended with Russia and China objecting to language around the war. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sought to use India's G-20 presidency to "depoliticize" the supply chains of food and fertilizer made scarce by the war.

India's top G-20 negotiator, Amitabh Kant, said on Thursday that the group still isn't close to reaching a settlement over the language in a joint statement at the leaders meeting in September. The body needs to also discuss pressing issues such as global debt and climate change as part of that, he said.