G7 Ministers Meet in Paris for Talks on Ukraine Peace and Iran Policy

Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven industrialised nations have gathered in Paris for two days of diplomatic talks focused on negotiations over the war in Ukraine and security policies regarding Iran. The summit comes as US-mediated discussions between Moscow and Kyiv are set to take place in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday and Wednesday.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stated that European nations will be represented at the Abu Dhabi peace talks, with France directly participating. European officials are seeking to ensure that Ukraine does not face disadvantageous terms in any potential settlement. According to US President Donald Trump, Washington is seeking a broad agreement with Russia covering European security concerns. US envoy Jared Kushner stated that the administration is working to establish a wider European security architecture to support lasting stability.

The Paris agenda also includes discussions on US posture toward Tehran, where European governments are advocating for stability to safeguard energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. Washington has not ruled out military action against Iranian infrastructure, including the site at Pickaxe Mountain, which Iranian authorities state is not a nuclear facility. Trump stated on Friday that Iranian officials desire to negotiate a deal. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed confidence in security arrangements for the summit despite ongoing domestic protests in France.

Parallel to the ministerial meetings, the French finance ministry is hosting a donor conference to raise 500 million euros for repairs to the protective dome at Ukraine's Chernobyl nuclear plant. The facility's structure was damaged in a Russian strike last year, and French officials report that just over half of the required funds have been gathered toward a spring 2027 target. Meanwhile, the city of Marseille is launching an international network comprising 14 major ports aimed at countering narcotics trafficking.

The gathering marks one of the concluding events of France's G7 presidency before the United States assumes the role in 2027. Addressing reporters prior to his arrival in France, Secretary of State Rubio commented on the recent US midterm elections, stating that a division of power between the executive and legislative branches is not uncommon in the American political system.

Written by Thomas Nussbaumer thomas.nussbaumer@alpineweekly.com