Foreign ministers from the Group of 20 nations are gathering in India for meetings on Thursday.

Their hosts know the war in Ukraine will be a focus, but they are hoping the ministers will also discuss the challenges the war has brought about.

At a news conference on Wednesday, Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra asked, "What is the understanding they develop, not just on the Russia-Ukraine conflict but also on the impact of that conflict on the rest of the world, particularly the economic impact?"

Kwatra said inflation, debt, and food and energy security are "equally important."

Indian diplomats have adopted a neutral stance on Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov praised what he called their "multi-polarity."

Lavrov said, "Moscow and New Delhi oppose the promotion of colonial practices such as illegitimate unilateral sanctions, threats, blackmail, and any other kind of pressure against sovereign states."

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he has "no plans" to meet Lavrov or China's foreign minister, Qin Gang.

British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said he hopes to meet Qin. He added, however, that meeting Russian officials would be "inappropriate."

Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa will not join his G20 counterparts, but he will head to New Delhi to attend a meeting of the Quad security framework, which includes Australia, India and the US.