The leaders of the Group of 20 major economies started online talks under India's presidency on Wednesday, with Russian President Vladimir Putin set to deliver a speech amid his country's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
The virtual meeting came after the G20 issued a leaders' declaration that avoided condemning Russia's aggression at their in-person gathering in New Delhi in September, reflecting the divisions over the Ukraine crisis that began in February 2022.
It is rare for a chair of the G20 to call a second summit during its stint in the rotating presidency. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi indicated he would host a virtual meeting by the end of his nation's tenure later this year.
As India has emphasized boosting relations with emerging and developing economies in the "Global South," the G20 leaders approved the inclusion of the African Union as a permanent member of the grouping at the New Delhi summit.
India is a key member of the Global South, a term that collectively refers to relatively less developed and developing countries in areas including Asia, Africa and Latin America, many of which have refrained from taking a stance on Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Some such countries are highly dependent on Russia for military and energy supplies. While the Group of Seven nations have bolstered economic sanctions against Moscow in tandem with other democracies, India has chosen not to follow suit.
Putin skipped the face-to-face gathering in India in September, sending Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on his behalf.
But he is expected on Wednesday to articulate his position on the war in Ukraine, Russia's Tass news agency reported, citing Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
Among other agenda items, the G20 leaders are likely to exchange views on the war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. From Japan, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is slated to attend the online summit.
Along with the G-7 -- Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States plus the European Union -- the G-20 groups Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea and Turkey, as well as African Union.
