PARIS: Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) began a two-day meeting in Paris on Monday, with European diplomats expected to urge US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to ensure that any settlement to the war between Russia and Ukraine is fair to Kyiv and avoids further escalation with Iran.
The meeting, bringing together representatives from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, provides European nations and their allies with an opportunity to raise concerns directly with their American counterpart.
The discussions coincide with US-mediated negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv in Abu Dhabi, scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.
The ministerial gathering, one of the final diplomatic engagements under France’s G7 presidency, was originally scheduled to take place in the southern port city of Marseille. However, the venue was unexpectedly shifted to Paris at the last minute, with officials citing scheduling considerations.
In a light-hearted moment during his opening remarks, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot welcomed his counterparts to Marseille before correcting himself, prompting laughter among those present.
European governments are increasingly concerned that Ukraine could be pressured into accepting unfavourable terms and that Washington might offer Russia new security guarantees without adequately consulting European allies.
“Europe does not need to establish a new security architecture for Europe,” German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said ahead of the meeting, stressing that Europe “must have a place at the table”.
US Pushes for Ukraine Settlement
French Foreign Minister Barrot said on Sunday that European representatives would participate in the Abu Dhabi negotiations, with France also taking part.
Concerns have intensified following US President Donald Trump’s prediction of a “very big” deal with Russia, suggesting that any agreement could extend beyond Ukraine and have implications for the entire European continent.
The remarks have fuelled fears in European capitals that Washington could shift its diplomatic approach closer to Moscow’s position.
Before departing for Paris, Rubio said Europe’s post-war security arrangements remained one of the key issues repeatedly raised during discussions on negotiations.
“We obviously have to get past the conflict to get to that point,” he said.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha is also scheduled to join the Paris meeting on Tuesday for a dedicated session on Ukraine.
In a post on X, Sybiha said his priorities included advancing de-escalation and peace efforts, strengthening the protection of Ukrainian airspace, increasing pressure on Russia and safeguarding freedom of navigation in the Black Sea.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had spoken with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to coordinate positions with the European Union ahead of the Abu Dhabi negotiations.
The Paris meeting is expected to underline Europe’s determination to remain directly involved in decisions concerning Ukraine’s future security and the broader European security framework.
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