US and G7 urge Russia to accept ceasefire in Ukraine

(CLO) The US has expressed consensus with G7 allies to support Ukraine's territorial integrity and urged Russia to accept a ceasefire or face new sanctions.

The joint statement by G7 foreign ministers came after weeks of tension between the US and its allies over the Trump administration's trade and security policies and stance on Ukraine.

G7 foreign ministers and representatives of the European Union attended the meeting. Photo: X

G7 officials had feared they would not be able to reach consensus on a joint statement, especially given the range of geopolitical issues involved, from the Ukraine conflict to the situation in the Middle East.

After the meeting, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington was satisfied with the content of the joint statement.

“We had discussions on Ukraine, the Middle East and other important issues. The goal is to maintain G7 unity,” Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly stressed.

The meeting brought together foreign ministers from the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the US, along with representatives from the European Union. The venue was the tourist town of La Malbaie, in the Quebec hills, where previous G7 summits have taken place.

Previously, negotiations for a joint statement had encountered difficulties due to disagreements over language related to Ukraine, the Middle East and Washington's desire for a tougher stance on China.

Finally, the joint statement reaffirmed support for Ukraine in defending its territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence.

Notably, this is a rare occasion during President Trump’s term that the US reiterated its commitment to Ukraine’s territorial integrity. Previously, the Trump administration did not rule out the possibility that Ukraine might have to make territorial concessions to reach a peace agreement.

Some European officials were surprised when the US agreed to this content, even repeatedly asking US diplomats, including Secretary of State Rubio, about the White House's real stance.

Although satisfied with the meeting's outcome, G7 officials remained cautious, saying that the Trump administration's policies frequently change and cannot be considered a firm commitment.

The G7 statement stressed that Moscow must accept the ceasefire on terms equivalent to Kiev's. Otherwise, Russia could face new sanctions, including an oil price cap.

“Ukraine’s territorial integrity is a key element of this statement, along with its commitment to the UN Charter,” said Kaja Kallas, High Representative for Foreign Affairs of the European Union.

Additionally, the language on “security guarantees” for Ukraine has been changed to “commitments to security guarantees,” emphasizing that any agreement must enable Ukraine to defend itself against future aggression.

British Foreign Secretary David Lam assessed this joint statement as "very good".

Cao Phong (according to CNN, BBC, Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/my-cung-g7-thuc-giuc-nga-chap-nhan-lenh-ngung-ban-o-ukraine-post338633.html