G7 struggles to agree on joint Ukraine statement
The G7 countries are still discussing the possibility of issuing a joint statement on the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with Washington refusing to accept the phrase "Russian aggression," Canada's Foreign Minister Melanie Joly told a virtual press briefing on Feb. 24, Reuters reported.
Canada holds the G7 presidency in 2025.
“We’ve been working, indeed, with the Europeans and Americans. We are still having some conversations,” she said.
“It is a fluid situation and we’ll continue to engage, but I’ve been foreign minister now for three years and a half, and it’s never been so intense in terms of diplomatic engagement, to say the least.”
Canada and other countries also disagree with the U.S. position at the UN, particularly on a resolution that seeks to soften the UN General Assembly's stance on Russia's aggression against Ukraine.
On Feb. 24, the United Nations General Assembly voted in favor of a resolution condemning Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine. During the vote, which coincided with the third anniversary of the full-scale invasion, the United States and Russia voted against, joined by Belarus, Hungary, and Israel, among others. The vote was 93-18, with notable abstentions including China, India and Iran.
The resolution was co-sponsored by more than 50 countries, including most EU member states and Ukraine. The document describes Russia as an aggressor and calls for the withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine's internationally recognized borders.
The General Assembly also backed a U.S. resolution on the issue with three amendments, which received 93 votes in favor, eight against and 73 abstentions. This version does not describe Russia as the aggressor, but refers to "the conflict between Russia and Ukraine" and calls for the establishment of a lasting peace.
The United States abstained from supporting its own resolution with the amendments. Ukraine also abstained from the vote.
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