(Munster) Ukraine can count on increased support from its Western allies to weather the winter, as promised by members of the G7 who want to prevent Russia from “starving” the country and plunging its population into “darkness” and cold.
Posted at 10:57 AM
“We will not allow the brutality of this war to lead to the mass death of the elderly, children, young people or families in the coming winter months,” German Foreign Minister Annalena Barbock said Thursday at the opening of a meeting of the Group of Seven industrialized nations. Münster, West Germany.
The head of European diplomacy, Josef Borrell, accused Vladimir Putin of “waiting for the arrival of General Winter to support the Russian army.”
They are bombing and destroying the civilian infrastructure of millions of Ukrainians who no longer have electricity. What Putin would like to do is plunge the country into darkness.
Josep Borrell, Head of European Diplomacy
Faced with mounting Russian strikes on civilian equipment, the Group of Seven industrialized nations, meeting through Friday, will coordinate their aid to deliver “water pumps, heaters, housing and sanitation containers, beds, blankets, and tents.” MI Barbock.
Tensions with Pyongyang
MI Barbock, whose country holds the G7 presidency until the end of the year, denounced Russia’s “treacherous tactics” in its method of waging war.
Several Ukrainian cities, including the capital, Kyiv, have been bombed in recent weeks, particularly targeting civilian equipment, causing water and electricity cuts.
Europeans and Americans have already provided massive economic and military aid to Kyiv since the Russian offensive began on February 24.
French Chief of Diplomacy Catherine Colonna said that another international meeting in support of Ukraine will be held on December 13 in Paris.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba is scheduled to intervene by video during this meeting in Münster, according to diplomatic sources.
“The G7 meeting comes at an important time for us,” a senior US diplomat told reporters, stressing that the group is “vital in creating coordination mechanisms” for the international community’s response to crises of course, from the war in Ukraine to North Korea. .
In this regard, said Mr.I Barbock, as chair of the Group of Seven, said she “strongly” condemned Pyongyang’s launch of a new ballistic missile on Thursday, a day after the record-breaking firing that exacerbated tensions in the region.
China is a “rival” country
The meeting, under the German presidency before Japan took over in January, comes against the backdrop of changes in government in Italy and the United Kingdom in particular, leading another US diplomat to say on the condition of anonymity that it was necessary to ensure everyone was on the same wavelength.
Europe’s energy crisis with winter approaching and the situation in Iran, shaken by bloody demonstrations and violent repression, were also at the center of the discussions.
The ministers of the United States and Germany jointly launched strong support for the protests in Iran.
“One of the things we’re trying to do together is to ensure that the Iranians have the ability to communicate with each other and with the outside world,” said Anthony Blinken, insisting on the “technological” support the United States has brought to the protesters.
Relations with Beijing will be discussed during a working dinner amid German Chancellor Olaf Schulz’s controversial visit to China on Friday. The latter promised on Wednesday not to “ignore differences” with Beijing during the trip.
In this regard, he said, the G7 countries are ready to consider China not only as a “partner”, but as a “competitor” and “competitor”.I Barbock.
The Group of Seven brings together the United States, Canada, Japan, France, Great Britain, Italy and Germany.
