G7 foreign ministers are set to meet in Paris starting Monday for two days of talks where European powers are expected to press the United States to pursue a fair settlement for Ukraine. During these discussions, Europe also intends to deter Washington from taking further military action against Iran.
The meeting follows a period of significant political shifts in the United States, as Washington has kept the option of new strikes on Iran open since Republicans lost the midterm elections. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to attend both days of the Paris summit, an increase from his one-day attendance at the March meeting.
The summit serves as one of the final acts of the French G7 presidency. While the event was originally scheduled for the port city of Marseille, it was moved to Paris at the last minute for scheduling reasons. The meeting occurs alongside US-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday and Wednesday regarding the end of the Ukraine war.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told RTL radio that "Europeans will be represented and France will be in Abu Dhabi to participate in these talks." Barrot noted that Europe is concerned about Kyiv being forced to accept disadvantageous conditions. This comes as concerns persist regarding a "very big" deal with Russia involving "all of Europe," a prospect previously predicted by Donald Trump.
Regarding Iran, Trump has not ruled out new strikes, including at Pickaxe Mountain, a site Tehran denies is a nuclear facility. European nations are seeking a resolution to restore normal shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. Trump stated on Friday, "We're dealing with them now," and added, "They want to make a deal very badly."
On the sidelines of the meeting, the French finance ministry will host a donor conference on Monday to raise funds to repair the dome protecting the Chernobyl nuclear reactor. The French finance ministry told AFP that approximately 500 million euros are required, with just over half raised to date and a target date of spring 2027 to secure the remainder.
Additionally, Barrot said Marseille will still host the launch of a network of 14 global ports aimed at combating drug trafficking.
Regarding the recent US midterm elections, Rubio told reporters that it is "not uncommon to have a division of power in this country," noting that Democrats now control both houses of Congress. He stated he was not worried about protests in France, trusting the advice of US counterparts on the ground who told him it is safe to attend.
