Washington — The United States is urging fellow G7 members to step up pressure on India and China as part of efforts to bring the Ukraine war to an end. According to senior officials, Washington believes both nations hold considerable sway over Moscow and could play a decisive role in influencing Russia’s decisions.
During recent high-level discussions, U.S. officials stressed that while sanctions and military support have weakened Russia’s war effort, diplomatic leverage from countries like India and China remains critical. They argued that coordinated efforts by the G7 to push New Delhi and Beijing into taking firmer stances could help isolate Moscow and accelerate the path to negotiations.
India has so far maintained a balanced position, calling for dialogue and diplomacy while continuing trade ties with Russia, particularly in energy. China, meanwhile, has expanded its strategic and economic partnership with Moscow, further complicating Western efforts to cut off Russia’s lifelines.
By pressing the G7 to “target” these two nations, Washington hopes to build a unified strategy that combines diplomatic, economic, and political measures to shift the calculus in Moscow. However, analysts caution that both India and China are unlikely to bow to Western pressure, given their strategic interests and longstanding ties with Russia.
The move underscores growing frustration within the G7 over the protracted nature of the conflict, as well as the recognition that without engagement from major powers outside the West, efforts to end the war may continue to stall.
For now, the focus is expected to remain on building consensus within the G7 on how best to engage India and China while avoiding a deeper rift in global geopolitics.