G7 Ministers Demand European Seat at Table as Ukraine Talks Hit $0 Progress Mark
German and Ukrainian officials pressed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to include Europe in decision-making processes as negotiations begin in Abu Dhabi.
By Alina Marshall ·
European foreign ministers formally requested a role in any final agreement regarding the war in Ukraine on Monday in Paris. The appeal came during the first day of a two-day Group of Seven summit, which overlaps with the start of US-mediated peace talks in Abu Dhabi. Ukrainian and German leaders emphasized that a solution cannot be reached without European participation.
The gathering marks Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s first meeting with key allies since the November midterm elections. In those races, President Donald Trump’s Republican Party lost a substantial number of seats. The timing has heightened concerns among European partners regarding Washington’s shifting stance on European security and its support for Ukraine. Rubio met with officials from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom to address these concerns directly.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stated that a fundamental change to Europe’s security architecture is neither necessary nor appropriate. He argued that Europe belongs at the negotiating table, asserting that there can be no solution without Europe, only with Europe. Wadephul warned that the upcoming talks in Abu Dhabi must demonstrate whether Russia is genuinely prepared to negotiate. He urged Moscow to abandon maximalist demands and cautioned against a negotiation show in the United Arab Emirates capital.
Wadephul noted that Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure continue. He said he sees no substantial contribution from Moscow toward gaining serious momentum in the negotiations. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha is scheduled to join a dedicated session on Ukraine in Paris on Tuesday. Before departing for the meeting, Sybiha stated that no one has the right to decide Ukraine’s fate behind its backs.
G7 members have grown uneasy about the direction of US policy. This includes Washington’s recent scaling back of support for Ukraine and its reduction of sanctions on Russia. Ministers from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, South Korea, and Brazil are also attending the summit. The Paris meeting overlaps with the Russia-Ukraine talks scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday in Abu Dhabi.
Iran is expected to feature prominently in discussions on Tuesday. Washington’s allies have expressed skepticism regarding the US and Israeli war on Iran, fearing that further military action could deepen the crisis. Rebecca Collard of Al Jazeera reported that the first day of talks ended with little clarity on US policy following the elections. The second day will include a session on instability in the Middle East and a discussion on the future of multilateralism among the nations.
