G20 finance ministers have failed to agree on a text of a joint communique to conclude the Bangalore summit, due to disagreements with China over the war in Ukraine.

“The discussions are more difficult than in previous sessions because the war continues,” said the Spanish finance minister. Nadia Calvinio.

Consequently, “certain positions are perhaps less constructive on certain issues,” said the Spanish minister.

China is seeking to soften the language on Ukraine in the text of the joint communique, officials said.

At this juncture, there is little chance of agreement on a joint communique, according to sources at the summit, because “China does not want to condemn the war in Ukraine.”

Last year, during three meetings of the G20 finance ministers, it was not possible to issue a joint communique.

China has neither supported nor publicly criticized the Russian attack, but has repeatedly expressed its support for Moscow in the face of Western sanctions.

For its part, India, which chairs the G20, maintains relations with Russia and has not condemned the Russian invasion.

France and Germany yesterday supported the inclusion of the word “war” in the final communique.

In Ukraine, “there is a war. And this war has one cause, one and only cause, and that is Vladimir Putin’s Russia,” said Germany’s finance minister. Christian Lindner.

The finance minister of France Bruno Le Mer supported the statements of his German counterpart.

“We are opposed to any retreat in the joint communique, in relation to the declaration made in Bali on the war in Ukraine,” he said during a press conference.

In November, G20 heads of state met in Bali, Indonesia. The final communique stated that “most members categorically condemned the war”.