The U.S. and its European allies sparred with Russia over the conflict in Ukraine at a meeting of G20 foreign ministers in New Delhi, with the rival sides each accusing the other of destabilizing the world.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had a discussion "on the move" that lasted less than 10 minutes. 

Blinken urged Russia to reverse its decision on the New START nuclear treaty, while Lavrov accused the West of turning the G20 agenda into a "farce," saying Western delegations wanted to shift responsibility for their economic failures onto Moscow.

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Blinken also told Lavrov that Washington was prepared to support Ukraine to defend itself for as long as it takes. It is believed it was their first one-on-one conversation in person since the start of the conflict in February 2022.

"We always remain hopeful that the Russians will reverse their decision and be prepared to engage in a diplomatic process that can lead to a just and durable peace, but I wouldn't say that coming out of this encounter there was any expectation that things will change in the near term," a U.S. official said.

News of the exchange came at the end of the day-long G20 meeting on Wednesday which was overshadowed by the Ukraine conflict.

Blinken said after his address: "We must continue to call on Russia to end its war of aggression and withdraw from Ukraine for the sake of international peace and economic stability.

"Unfortunately, this meeting has again been marred by Russia's unprovoked and unjustified war against Ukraine."

He was backed by his counterparts from Germany, France and the Netherlands.

"Unfortunately, one G20 member prevents all the other 19 from focusing all their efforts on these issues the G20 was created for," German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said.

Baerbock, addressing Lavrov, urged the Kremlin to return to full implementation of the New START nuclear arms treaty and to resume dialogue with the U.S..

"The threat of nuclear weapons should be opposed," she added.

President Vladimir Putin last week announced Russia's decision to suspend participation in the latest START treaty, after accusing the West – without providing evidence – of being directly involved in attempts to strike its strategic air bases.

Lavrov pointed fingers after his address at the West for the global political and economic crises.

"A number of Western delegations turned the work on the G20 agenda into a farce, wanting to shift the responsibility for their failures in the economy to the Russian Federation," Lavrov said.

He said the West had created obstacles to the export of Russian agricultural products, accusing them of "shamelessly burying" the Black Sea grain initiative that facilitates the export of Ukraine's agricultural products from its southern ports, the RIA Novosti news agency reported.

The G20 includes the rich G7 nations as well as Russia, China, India, Brazil, Australia and Saudi Arabia, among other countries.

India, which holds the bloc's presidency this year, has sought to highlight the economic impact of the Ukraine conflict, as well as issues such as climate change and poorer countries' debt.

But New Delhi's efforts to bridge differences and produce a joint statement or a communique stumbled due to differences over the conflict. The meeting produced an "outcome document" instead.

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