Münster, Germany — Top diplomats from the world’s leading industrialized democracies Thursday said they would expand their unified stance on Russia’s war in Ukraine, China’s growing influence in the global economy and Iran’s crackdown on anti-government protesters. asked for
The foreign ministers of the G7 nations began two days of talks in the historic West German city of Münster to assess the war in Ukraine and to provide economic, military and financial support to Ukraine more than eight months after Russia’s aggression. Others keep helping, as winter approaches.
The importance of this venue, the same room where the Treaty of Westphalia was signed in 1648 to end Europe’s bloody Thirty Years’ War, was not lost on the attendees.
At an event with German Foreign Minister Annalena Beerbock, US Secretary of State Anthony Brinken referred to the 374-year-old document, saying that Russia’s actions in Ukraine have led many to believe the treaty established national sovereignty and He said it was a direct attack on the concept of territorial integrity. .
“These are the very principles being challenged by Russia today,” Brinken said. “If we allow it to be challenged with impunity, the foundations of the international order will begin to erode and eventually collapse. None of us can afford to let that happen.”
Beerbock opened the G-7 meeting at Münster Town Hall and said that the values launched in 1648 were the same values that are under threat today. “Peace and the Rule of Law”.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “actions are pushing the world’s poorest countries into further despair, pushing global food security to the brink and pushing up energy prices,” British Foreign Secretary James Cleverley said. “These actions will only show Putin’s true intentions and unite the international community against his callous plans.”
“We will not accept that the Russian president succeeds in his strategy of destroying Ukraine,” said Beerbok.
A meeting in Munster saw the same G-7 nations (UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the US) band together to warn of “massive consequences” if Russia went ahead with its plans. It takes place almost a year after Invade Ukraine.
Putin denied such a plan, and some countries viewed repeated Western warnings of a build-up of Russian forces near Ukraine as exaggerated at the time.
Since issuing the first warning to Moscow two months before the Russian invasion began in late February, the G-7 have all but carried out their vow to punish Russia, but amid soaring energy prices. , sanctions did little to deter the Kremlin.
Russia instead escalated attacks on civilians and infrastructure, sent more troops, illegally annexed four regions of Ukraine, and showed no interest in a diplomatic settlement. A senior U.S. official said Putin had “doubled” and in some cases “tripled” his position.
A potential global food crisis was averted when Russia agreed Wednesday to rejoin a wartime deal that would allow Ukraine’s grain exports to be exported to global markets, but other emergencies is approaching.
These include the impact of the war on energy supplies, Russia’s unsubstantiated claims that Ukraine is preparing to use a radioactive “dirty bomb”, and the suggestion that Russia might respond with nuclear weapons. included. The United Nations nuclear watchdog said Thursday that inspections of Ukrainian sites found no evidence to support Russia’s claims that Ukraine was planning to detonate a radioactive “dirty bomb”.
Meanwhile, the European Union is considering setting a price cap on Russia’s energy imports with the aim of further stifling Russia’s revenues.
The G-7 ministers also seek to boost Western investment in critical and sensitive infrastructure, while China sided with Russia over Ukraine and a joint approach to Iran in addition to brutal military action. Other issues were also to be discussed, including The crackdown on protesters has been accused of supplying Russia with armed drones and other weapons for use in Ukraine.
Host Beerbok said he hoped the group would focus on supporting women’s rights, especially in Iran, where protests erupted over the death of a woman accused of violating the mandate to wear a headscarf. rice field.
On China, U.S. officials said the G-7 aims to further harmonize policies related to Chinese investments in the country and to be alert to possible hostile moves by Beijing toward Taiwan. said that
Beijing is “not only a partner in international affairs, but also a competitor, a stronger rival in terms of its understanding of the international order,” Mr. Barbock said.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited Beijing this week, becoming the first European leader to do so since the war began in Ukraine. Chinese investments in major German port projects have raised concerns in Washington and other capitals that China could gain control of critical infrastructure in the heart of the allies.
U.S. officials said they were happy that the contract for the Port of Hamburg had been amended, reducing China’s stake to a minority, but all nations were skeptical of the proposed Chinese investment and the potential it could bring. He said it was important to carefully consider certain potential security threats.
Scholz promised to use his visit to insist on China’s moderation and support to calm the situation with Ukraine and Taiwan.
The G-7 has survived major changes since the Foreign Minister issued a harsh pre-war ultimatum to the Kremlin last December. Britain has his third prime minister, Italy has a new far-right-led government, relations between Germany and France are souring, and control of the U.S. Congress could shift in next week’s midterm elections. I have.
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