India said on Friday that it is certain the Group of 20 major economies would finalize a proclamation at their summit this weekend in New Delhi. According to reports, the only outstanding issue is the language regarding the conflict in Ukraine.

Due to disagreements over the conflict, negotiators have been unable to agree on the wording for days. They aim to win over Russia and China by producing a statement addressing urgent global issues like debt and climate change.

The Leaders’ Declaration, the summit’s final statement, would include a “voice” for the global south and developing nations, according to India’s G20 sherpa or negotiator, Amitabh Kant.

At a press conference, Kant said, “The New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration is almost ready; I would not like to dwell on it.” “The leaders will be advised to adopt this declaration.”

The only remaining problem, according to four officials in the Indian government, is the terminology used in the conflict, and a second sherpa conference to reach an agreement is expected to last late into the night.

A source told Reuters that a united proclamation could or might not get universal support. It could have multiple paragraphs outlining the opinions of various nations, or it could combine agreement and disagreement in a single paragraph.

A second source said that to get everyone to agree, “we may paper over the differences and make a general statement saying we should have peace and harmony throughout the world.”

Businesses, companies, and schools in the normally busy capital city of New Delhi were shuttered in advance of the summit as part of security precautions to ensure the success of the most important conference that the nation will ever hold.

XI, MISSING PUTIN

The West and its allies are anticipated to dominate the conference. Premier Li Qiang from China will attend instead of absent Russian President Vladimir Putin, who will also miss the conference.

There will be several world leaders there, including Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed Bin Salman, Germany’s Olaf Scholz, France’s Emmanuel Macron, Britain’s Rishi Sunak, and Japan’s Fumio Kishida.

At the ministerial meetings held so far this year under India’s G20 chair, the toughened attitude on the war has precluded consensus on even a single communiqué, leaving it to the leaders to find a workaround, if feasible.

China said on Friday that it is ready to collaborate with all parties and strive for the summit’s success.

Mao Ning, a spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry, commented in response to a media story that said Sunak had accused China of holding up an agreement on many topics, including Ukraine.

Sunak asserted in New Delhi that it was not his business to advise India on how to feel about the conflict in Ukraine.

Sunak told the Indian news agency ANI: “It’s not my place to advise India what stances to take on international matters, but I know India rightfully cares about the international rule of law, the UN Charter, and respect for territorial integrity.

India has refrained from blaming Moscow for the conflict and advocated for a diplomatic settlement. According to a Thursday Financial Times article, Sunak will advise his Indian counterpart to “call out” Russia for its invasion in February 2022.

PRESENTING INDIA

India’s leadership of the Group and the summit are being positioned by Modi’s administration as a showpiece for the nation’s rapidly expanding economy and its ascent in the geopolitical food chain.

New Delhi has been decorated for the meeting with a brand-new summit location, fountains, flowerpots, and lighting along main thoroughfares, and hundreds of armed security men on duty.

On Friday, more than 100 Tibetan refugees demonstrated outside the city center to demand that the summit address China’s “occupation” of their nation.

Before this, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said that although it would be difficult, Washington was prepared to collaborate with India to assist in drafting a communiqué after the summit.

According to analysts, bigger differences over the conflict in Ukraine might stall efforts to address problems, including food security, financial hardship, and international collaboration on climate change.

According to Yellen, the most crucial action that can be taken to assist global economic development is for Russia to halt its horrific conflict in Ukraine.

To agree to a Delhi proclamation, Western nations want a vehement denunciation of the incursion. India has recommended that the G20 reflect both Moscow and Beijing’s views that the conference is not appropriate for geopolitics while simultaneously denouncing the misery brought on by Russia’s incursion.

According to officials in the Indian administration, there is also considerable dispute over collaboration on climate change.

The organization has disagreed on goals for growing renewable energy, phasing out fossil fuels, and lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

According to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, G20 leaders can stop a climate disaster that is “spinning out of control” and have been encouraged to update the world’s unjust and out-of-date financial regulations.

In a speech, Guterres said, “The climate crisis is worsening dramatically, but the collective response is lacking in ambition, credibility, and urgency.”