G20 foreign ministers gather in New Delhi to tackle Ukraine crisis amid US-China-Russia tensions
The first meeting of the G20 foreign ministers in New Delhi opened this Wednesday, with the war in Ukraine at the top of the agenda and broader frictions among the United States, China, and Russia casting a shadow over the discussions.
In a video message delivered at the opening, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed the hope that the gathering would embody solidarity and deliver concrete, actionable outcomes. He urged participants to rely on shared wisdom and a practical spirit as they navigate delicate diplomacy.
Delegates are seeking to bridge a divide between the bloc of leading economies, which includes the United States and its Western partners, and the bloc of developing nations. The goal is to align on a common approach to the Ukraine crisis and to articulate a united stance that reflects both responsibility and humanitarian concern. A senior European Union official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, suggested that pressure on Russia will be a central theme, while acknowledging that achieving consensus will be challenging given Moscow’s evident geopolitical backing from Beijing. The official noted that Western nations are expected to push for a joint condemnation of the invasion, even as China’s support for Russia complicates the path to agreement.
Earlier, in Bangalore, during meetings among G20 finance ministers marking the one-year milestone of the Ukraine conflict, Beijing reaffirmed its stance alongside Moscow by resisting a treaty that would explicitly condemn the Kremlin’s actions. India aims to channel discussions toward counterterrorism priorities and related concerns surrounding energy and global food security—issues intensified by the broader economic disruption triggered by the war and the lingering effects of the pandemic. The objective is to forge consensus within the G20 and to position the group as the “voice of the Global South” at a moment when debt distress and economic spillovers are a focal point for many countries.
The Delhi talks bring together key figures including Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. The simmering U.S.-China dispute—accentuated by recent policy moves such as China’s alleged broader surveillance concerns and Washington’s decision to restrict the TikTok platform for officials—will also be a backdrop for the days ahead in New Delhi as ministers seek to manage tensions while pursuing pragmatic, multilateral solutions. The discussions underway reflect the broader drive to reframe global cooperation in a period of strategic rivalry, economic upheaval, and shared challenges that require collective action.