G-7 Struggles to Cement Stance on Ukraine as Trump Courts Putin

(Bloomberg) -- The Group of Seven is struggling to agree on a draft communique to mark three years since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine after an initial draft was significantly watered down, according to diplomats familiar with the talks.

The splits highlight worsening divisions among the allies as President Donald Trump pursues unilateral peace negotiations with Russia — and without Europe or Ukraine —- aimed at ending the conflict. 

The latest draft seen by Bloomberg, dated Feb. 19, says that “strong security guarantees and Ukraine’s EU integration will be critical to secure a lasting peace that prevents future aggression.” 

That’s softer language than an initial version that called for a peace “that does not reward aggression or license future wars” through “a durable security guarantee for Ukraine, with troops and resources on the ground, coupled with robust international oversight to monitor agreed-upon lines.” A reference to Atlantic integration has also been removed.

The G-7 has routinely referred to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and its war of aggression against its neighbor, and the initial draft also called it “illegal,” but the most recent version changed that to a “devastating war that began with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.”

Negotiators dropped a reference to allies instructing their finance ministers to restrict or adapt the oil price cap on Russian petroleum in a bid to spur Moscow to negotiate, which was in the initial version. 

Allies will continue to negotiate the text and further changes are likely, said the diplomats, who asked for anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.

G-7 foreign ministers were able to agree to a text just last weekend at the Munich Security Conference where they discussed “Russia’s devastating war in Ukraine” and its “war of aggression,” and officials hope that a similar landing zone can be found this time.

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