Top diplomats focus on ongoing war in Ukraine at G7 meeting in Niagara

Group of Seven foreign ministers held their second day of their two-day summit Wednesday in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand opened the meeting Tuesday with a push for collaboration among the G7 nations. 

“Those who enable Russia’s war will face consequences under Canadian law,” said Anand.

The itinerary includes a meeting with leaders from South Korea and Italy, followed by a meeting with Ukraine.

When opening the two-day meeting Tuesday night, Anand told her counterparts that meeting global challenges requires global partnerships.

“The issues we are facing transcend the G7 and our borders,” said Anand. “This is why it is absolutely vital that we have diverse geographic representation around the table.”

She met with her American counterpart in the afternoon, but trade negotiations were left off the agenda.

READ MORE: G7 leaders gather for two-day summit in Niagara region

All eyes were on the war in Ukraine at this week’s foreign minister’s meeting, with Anand announcing that our country is placing new sanctions on 13 Russian individuals and 11 organizations, many of which she says are tied to drone attacks on Ukraine.

The sanctions also target Russia’s shadow fleet of oil tankers that have evaded sanctions.

This all comes as Ukrainians are dealing with widespread electricity blackouts, as Russia continues to attack Ukraine’s energy grid.

“Unfortunately, Russia continues to reject peace,” said Andrii Sybiha, the Foreign Affairs Minister of Ukraine. “Putin is still under the illusion that he can win the war, but in reality he has lost over one million soldiers and has not achieved a single strategic goal.”

While Ukraine is not a member of the Group of Seven nations, the country’s foreign minister was invited to attend today’s conference, meeting one-on-one with Anand and others, and attending a round table on the war.

Also on the agenda for the conference: the tenuous ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, conflict in Sudan, energy resilience, critical minerals, and maritime security.

Notably not on the agenda today: tariffs.

Every G7 nation has faced punishing tariffs by the U.S. within the last year.

Anand met with the U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sideline of the conference today, after he touched down at Hamilton Airport Tuesday to shake hands, with no mention of American tariffs, at least on camera.

Since the last foreign minister’s meeting in March, U.S. President Donald Trump called off trade talks, pointing the finger at Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s anti-tariff television ad featuring former president Ronald Reagan.

Anand also made remarks about Canada’s Arctic region and the importance of opening a consulate in Greenland and expanding Canada’s diplomatic footprint.

Wednesday’s meeting in Niagara-on-the-lake marks one of the final times Anand will chair the conference, as Canada’s G7 presidency ends in the new year.

READ MORE: Anand says U.S. secretary Rubio has avoided ’51st state’ chatter as G7 meeting looms