U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, right, listens to Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt during their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of G-20 financial conclave on the outskirts of Bengaluru, India, Feb. 24, 2023.
As the meetings convened on the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, such issues were bound to crop up, despite host India’s reluctance to be caught between allies of Ukraine and Russia and other countries supporting Moscow, such as China.In kicking off the meetings Friday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi avoided mention of Ukraine.
The wording of a communique due to be issued Saturday when the talks wrap up was evidently still under discussion, as other forums such as the Group of Seven prepared to announce new sanctions against Russia. In welcoming the G-20 policymakers, Modi urged them to focus on helping the world’s most vulnerable people.
The meetings in Bengaluru were due to touch on a wide range of issues including digital currencies and payments, reform of institutions like the World Bank, climate change and financial inclusion.