G7 Foreign Ministers Meet in Paris to Press US on Ukraine Peace and Iran Restraint

Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven leading industrialised nations opened two days of talks in Paris on Monday, with the war in Ukraine and the risk of renewed American military action against Iran dominating the agenda. Source: AFP

The meeting brings together ministers from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, along with the European Union. Ukraine, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, South Korea and Brazil have also been invited to take part in some sessions. The gathering had long been scheduled for the southern port city of Marseille but was moved to Paris at short notice. Source: CNBC-TV18

All eyes are on US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is attending both days of the talks, unlike the March meeting, when he came for only one. The visit is his first trip abroad since the midterm elections, in which the Republican Party suffered heavy losses, and it gives Washington's allies their first chance to judge whether the result changes President Donald Trump's approach to Ukraine, the Middle East and relations with America's closest partners. Source: AFP

On Ukraine, European governments are expected to press Washington for a fair settlement rather than one imposed on Kyiv. The Paris meeting comes just before US-mediated talks between Moscow and Kyiv in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday and Wednesday, where the two sides are due to discuss ending the war, post-war security arrangements and measures to reduce tensions. Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 is grinding towards its fifth anniversary. Source: The Hindu

Iran is also expected to feature prominently. European powers want to deter Washington from further military action against Tehran, while Mr Trump has not ruled out new strikes, including against a site known as Pickaxe Mountain, which he has described as a suspected nuclear facility and which Tehran denies is one. Mr Rubio has said recent diplomatic efforts made limited progress and described Iran's demands as unacceptable. Source: Associated Press

The agenda goes beyond the two wars. Ministers are also due to discuss energy, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, funding for nuclear safety at Chernobyl, and a 14-port international network to combat drug trafficking. France, which holds the G7 presidency, has also put Africa, China, Cuba and Haiti on the agenda. Source: Outlook India

The meeting is one of the final acts of the French G7 presidency, which saw President Emmanuel Macron host Mr Trump for the leaders' summit in the lakeside resort of Evian this summer. Washington takes over the presidency in 2027. Source: AFP

Expectations for a concrete outcome are modest. The French hosts have already signalled that the meeting will not produce a joint communique, reflecting differences among the allies on major issues. Talks continue on Tuesday, when attention will shift to Abu Dhabi and whether the US-mediated negotiations can produce any movement towards ending the war in Ukraine. Source: Arab News

This article was researched and drafted with AI assistance and verified against multiple independent sources.