G7 to Rubio: No Ukraine deal without Europe, steer clear of Iran escalation

European diplomats are set to confront US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the G7 summit in Paris, urging him to ensure any resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict is equitable for Ukraine and avoid further escalation with Iran. The G7, comprising Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United States, will provide a platform for Europe and its allies to voice their concerns to the US.

The ongoing war against Ukraine, which began in February 2022 with Russia's full-scale invasion, is nearing its fifth anniversary. Currently, Washington has not ruled out the possibility of further attacks against Iran, despite the defeat of former President Donald Trump's Republicans in the midterm elections. The meeting comes as US-mediated talks with Moscow and Kyiv in Abu Dhabi are scheduled for tomorrow and Wednesday, aimed at ending the Ukraine war.

Europe is worried that Kyiv may be forced to accept unfavorable conditions and fears that the US could offer Russia new security guarantees without consulting Europe.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul emphasized during his journey to the talks that Europe "must have a place at the table" and does not wish to establish a new security architecture for the continent. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot assured that Europeans will be represented at the Abu Dhabi talks, along with France's participation.

In a pre-Paris visit, Rubio reiterated that the post-war security infrastructure of Europe is a crucial topic in ongoing negotiations. He stated that they must "get past the conflict to get to that point."

Concerning Iran, Trump has not ruled out any new strikes, including at the 'Pickaxe Mountain' suspected nuclear site, a claim Tehran denies. Europeans, however, are eager to resolve the issue and restore shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, an energy transit hub. Trump reassured CNN that military escalation is "highly unlikely," noting that Wadephul added the G7 talks would focus on identifying ways to avoid any such escalation.

Rubio acknowledged there has been "no progress" in talks with Iran, describing their demands as "simply not just unacceptable but, in some cases, outrageous and ridiculous and really not realistic." The G7 ministerial meeting, a final act of the French G7 presidency, initially scheduled for Marseille, was moved to Paris at the last minute.

On the sidelines, French finance ministry will host a donor conference on Monday to raise funds for repairing the damaged nuclear reactor in Ukraine's Chernobyl region following a Russian strike in 2022. Around €500 million (RM2.2 billion) is required, with only more than half raised so far, with the target date for raising the remaining funds set for spring 2027.