U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told Reuters that a strong statement condemning the war in Ukraine is "absolutely necessary" for the communiqué of the meeting of G-20 financial leaders in India.

Yellen said excluding condemnation of the war from the communiqué would be a step back from the statement G20 leaders made last November on the Indonesian island of Bali.

Reuters earlier reported that the G20 finance ministers could not reach a consensus on the war in Ukraine and are likely to end Saturday's meeting in India without a joint communiqué.

Host India is also insisting that meeting participants avoid using the word "war" in any communiqué, G20 officials told Reuters.