Canada has called on the Group of Seven powers to back Ukraine against Russia’s “aggression” as United States President Donald Trump, seems to be applying a conciliatory approach toward Moscow.
The current G7 president, Canada, is gathering foreign ministers for days of talks inside a rustic hotel in snow-dusted Charlevoix, on the banks of the St. Lawrence River in Quebec.
Once broadly unified, the G7 which consists of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, has been rattled since the return of President Trump, who has reached out to Russia and slapped punishing trade tariffs on close allies and competitors alike.
Before the full talks, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly sat down with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the highest-level US official to visit since the inauguration of Trump who has taunted the United States’ northern neighbor as the 51st state.
Joly, opening the formal session of the G7, said she hoped to find ways to continue the support for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s illegal aggression.
He also called for the G7 to avoid “antagonistic” language toward Russia, saying it would hinder US diplomacy that could end the war that has killed tens of thousands of people.
Meanwhile Canada put its maple-leaf flag next to the US Stars and Stripes in a meeting room where Joly and Rubio exchanged French-style pecks on the cheek and shook hands, as they refused to answer questions asked by reporters.
Ukraine, under heavy pressure from Trump who briefly cut off aid, agreed with Rubio in talks to a US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire with Russia.
Similarly, Russian President Vladimir Putin had voiced broad support for a ceasefire but suggested he wanted to speak to Trump about it.
