USA resist reference to Russian aggression in the G7 statement

USA resist reference to Russian aggression in the G7 statement

There is currently a diplomatic back and forth among the members of the group of seven (G7) regarding a joint explanation to mark the third anniversary of the Russian invasion in Ukraine . The United States oppose a reference to "Russian aggression" in this document.

background of the conflict

The dispute, by two western officials who are familiar with the matter, described as symptomatic for the greater change in the handling of the White House with the conflict, differs significantly from the attitude of bidding administration. President Donald Trump attributed the war of Ukraine and compared their presidents to a "dictator". This is in strong contrast to the statements of the bidet government and its G7 allies about the war in the past three years.

Current discussions within the G7

The group is expected to meet virtually next week to discuss the anniversary of the invasion on Monday. The resistance from Washington to take Russia responsible for the conflict endangers western cohesion because the war goes into its fourth year. "Russian aggression" has been a common expression in G7 declarations since the beginning of the conflict, as was the description of the conflict as a "illegal aggression war". The group has established itself as a kind of control committee for the support of Kiev.

resistance to responsibility

Now envoys from Washington have expressed concerns how the war is formulated in the document. Trump has also proposed that, according to his expulsion from the group, Russia should join the G7 again due to the annexation of the Crimea in 2014. According to the officials, the US government defends itself against wording that blend Russia responsible for the war, while other countries in the group vehemently exist in a clear position that every reduction in the declaration would mean a victory for Moscow.

The influence of Donald Trump on international diplomacy

"The talks continue," said one of the officials. "However, there is great concern about the ambiguity who is responsible for the war." The Financial times first reported about the ongoing discussions. The White House did not respond to an inquiry to comment, but in a press briefing on Thursday, the national security advisor of the USA, Mike Waltz said that the president was still angry with the Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj after he described him the day before as a dictator.

reactions of the western leaders

Trump has emphasized several times this week that it is not Russia, but Ukraine. "Remember to a moderately successful comedian, Volodymyr Zelensky, has caused the United States to spend $ 350 billion to go to a war that could not be won," he wrote on social media on Wednesday. However, further western leaders quickly distanced themselves from this view. The French President Emmanuel Macron, who meets Trump in the White House on Monday, said that he would warn his US colleagues "not to be weak" Putin.

conversation with Selenskyj

in Kiev, Trump's envoy for Russia and Ukraine, General Keith Kellogg, met Selenskyj on Thursday to discuss the efforts to end the war. He was partly there to convince Selenskyj to agree to the American proposals that would offer the US government mineral tax revenue from Ukraine as a payment for past support. Selenskyj's rejection of the plan anxious the white house. Trump's advisor accused the Ukrainian leader not to show sufficient appreciation for American support.

conclusion

"There must be a deep appreciation for what the American people, what the American taxpayer, what President Trump did during his first term and what we have achieved since then," said Waltz. "Some of the rhetorics that come from Kiev and the insults against President Trump were unacceptable."