WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – The International Monetary Fund’s steering committee will not publish a communiqué on Thursday because Russia obstructed consensus by refusing strong language condemning the war in Ukraine. A source close to the matter stated that this was after Russia had refused to accept the inclusion of such language.

It is made up of 24 members and meets two times a year during the spring and autumn meetings of IMF and World Bank. The committee advises IMF Board of Governors. Although it does not have formal decision-making power, regular communications by the IMFC provide the fund with strategic direction.

On Wednesday, top officials of the United States of America, Canada, Britain and the European Union walked out of a meeting of financial officials representing the Group of 20 major countries.