Watered-down G20 statement on Ukraine is sign of India’s growing influence

Joe Biden's need to nurture alliances to contain China sees Ukraine perceptibly slipping down list of priorities

It took exhausted Indian diplomats 200 hours of non-stop negotiations, 300 bilateral meetings, and 15 drafts, but in the end the G20 countries reached a consensus declaration on the war in Ukraine - one that largely retreated into generalised principles, rather than the specific condemnation of Russia the same group of leaders agreed when they met in Bali a year ago.

Moreover, no invitation was extended to Ukrainie's president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, to address the gathering, meaning the only direct combatant around the table was Russia, in the form of its foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov.