G7 Ministers Meet in Paris to Discuss Ukraine Conflict and Iran Tensions

Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven leading industrialised nations have convened in Paris for two days of talks, with the Ukraine conflict and potential US military action against Iran dominating the agenda. The meeting, one of the final acts of the French G7 presidency, brings together ministers from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United States. This G7 ministerial meeting follows President Emmanuel Macron's hosting of US President Donald Trump for a leaders' summit in Evian this summer.

The Ukraine conflict, now in its fifth year since Russia's February 2022 invasion, remains a pressing concern. European powers are hoping to persuade Washington to pursue a fair settlement to the conflict while avoiding further escalation in the Middle East. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will attend both days of the meeting, a departure from the March meeting when he only attended one day. Rubio's visit is seen as an opportunity for him to position himself as a potential successor to Trump.

The meeting coincides with US-mediated talks between Moscow and Kyiv in Abu Dhabi, scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, aimed at ending the Ukraine war. European countries are concerned that Kyiv must not be forced to accept disadvantageous conditions. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot stated that Europeans will be represented in these talks, and France will participate. Trump has predicted a "very big" deal with Russia involving not only the Ukraine war but "all of Europe".

On the issue of Iran, Trump has not ruled out new strikes, including against a suspected nuclear site that Tehran denies is a nuclear facility. Europeans, however, are eager to see a resolution and shipping traffic return to normal through the Strait of Hormuz, a key energy transit route. Trump stated that the US is dealing with Iran and that they "want to make a deal very badly". The French finance ministry will also host a donor conference to raise funds to repair the dome protecting the nuclear reactor that exploded at Ukraine's Chernobyl nuclear power plant in 1986.

The dome was damaged in a Russian strike last year, and around 500 million euros is required for repairs, but only just over half has been raised so far. The target is to secure the remaining funds by spring 2027. Marseille will host the launch of a network of 14 global ports joining forces to combat drug trafficking, which has become a major issue in the southern city.

Rubio declined to comment directly on Trump's and the Republicans' loss in the US midterm elections, stating that it is not uncommon to have a division of power in the US. He expressed trust in US counterparts on the ground who advised him that it was safe to attend the G7 meeting, despite widespread protests in France.

The G7 meeting was initially scheduled to take place in Marseille but was moved to Paris at the last minute, with only scheduling reasons given for the change. Washington will take over the G7 presidency from France in 2027. The US-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi and the G7 meeting highlight the ongoing efforts to address the Ukraine conflict and tensions with Iran.

Key points

• European powers are seeking a fair settlement to the Ukraine conflict while avoiding further escalation in the Middle East.
• The US and Europeans have differing views on how to address the Iran issue, with Europeans eager to see a resolution and shipping traffic return to normal through the Strait of Hormuz.
• The G7 meeting and US-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi demonstrate the ongoing international efforts to address pressing global issues.