G7 foreign ministers are meeting in Paris on November 9 and 10 as European governments seek a role in US-led efforts to end Russia’s war in Ukraine. The discussions come just before US-mediated talks involving Russia and Ukraine are due to begin in Abu Dhabi on November 10.
The G7 brings together the foreign ministers of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States. The Abu Dhabi discussions are scheduled to run through November 11, according to Reuters.
France says Europeans will take part
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said France and other Europeans would be represented in Abu Dhabi. He also said he did not know the details of the US plan, but argued that an agreement affecting European security could not be reached without European involvement.
European governments have warned against a settlement that compromises Ukraine’s sovereignty. US President Donald Trump has said he expects a deal and suggested it could leave Ukraine with a “little bit different shape.” He said the agreement would involve Europe.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is attending both days of the Paris meeting. He has said recent discussions made progress on security guarantees for Ukraine and the broader region. Trump’s envoy Jared Kushner has also described US work on a wider European security framework. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has previously argued that discussions of such a framework should follow, rather than precede, efforts to end the war.
Iran and shipping also on the agenda
The ministers are also expected to discuss tensions between Washington and Tehran. Trump has not ruled out further US military strikes against Iran, while European governments are seeking a diplomatic solution. The status of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for international energy supplies, is another concern.
The Paris meeting is among the final major diplomatic events of France’s G7 presidency. The United States is scheduled to take over the group’s rotating presidency in 2027. DW reported that the talks are also expected to address Washington’s approach to Iran.
Nicole French 
Reid Bentley