G-7 mulls over ways to get Russia to engage in Ukraine peace talks

Increasing costs to Russia, exploring action against pro-Moscow entities among plans

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Group of Seven (G-7) foreign ministers on Nov 12 discussed ways to increase pressure on Russia over the war in Ukraine, amid doubts over whether Moscow is interested in negotiating an end to the conflict.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was in Canada’s Niagara region for the meeting, which was also joined by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, who pushed for Kyiv’s allies to strengthen its long-range missile capability and bolster its energy sector as Ukraine enters another winter at war.

Countries attending the meeting of foreign ministers in Canada on Nov 12 were also concerned about US military operations in the Caribbean and whether armed strikes on alleged drug-trafficking boats carried out by Washington violate international law.

US President Donald Trump has sought a rapprochement with Moscow and held a summit in Alaska with Russian President Vladimir Putin in August.

But he has backed calls for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine with forces at their present positions, while Moscow has said it wants Kyiv to yield more territory.

The ministers issued a final joint statement in which they reiterated a call for an immediate ceasefire and said, “we are increasing the economic costs to Russia, and exploring measures against countries and entities that are helping finance Russia’s war efforts”.

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told Reuters on the sidelines of the talks that discussion on Ukraine revolved around putting more pressure on Russia to seek peace after the US concluded that Moscow was not serious about ending the war.

“In order to make them have peace, we have to put more pressure,” Ms Kallas said.