G7 foreign ministers stress support for Ukraine
The G7 reaffirm their support for Ukraine at the MSC. Europe insists on having a say in peace negotiations – a special EU summit could follow.
Munich (d.de/dpa) – Following a meeting on the margins of the Munich Security Conference, the foreign ministers of the G7 countries have reaffirmed their support for strengthening Ukraine, saying that robust security guarantees were now needed to ensure that the war could start again once a potential peace agreement had been concluded. The meeting between the chief diplomats of the USA, France, Germany, the UK, Canada, Japan, Italy and the EU was also attended by their Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha.
According to the statement, fresh sanctions against Russia are not ruled out but would depend on whether the country was prepared to enter into serious talks on the future of Ukraine, promising it long-term security and stability as a sovereign nation, as well as territorial integrity.
The Munich Security Conference (MSC) enters its third and final day today, with an agenda that includes the European security architecture, faster EU accession of the Balkan states and Europe’s competitiveness.
At the MSC on Saturday, Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy were among those calling for Europe and Ukraine to be involved in talks between the USA and Russia on a possible end to the war. “No decisions on Ukraine without Ukraine, no decisions on Europe without Europe,” warned Zelenskiy.
The US government’s special envoy for Russia and Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, responded evasively to questions about this without specifying how Europeans might be involved. When asked whether Europe would be at the table for negotiations, Kellogg said it was all a matter of interpretation: “Define ‘at the table’,” he said.
Another international meeting could follow very soon after the end of the MSC. EU heads of state and government are looking to hold a special summit at short notice in response to the approach taken by US President Donald Trump regarding a potential resolution to the war in Ukraine. “There are ongoing talks between leading European politicians about a possible informal meeting, but nothing has been finalised yet,” said the Élysée Palace.