Germany Tells Rubio Europe Must Have a Say in Ukraine Peace Deal

Europe belongs at this table. There can be no solution without Europe – only with Europe, German Minister for Foreign Affairs Johann Wadephul told U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a G7 meeting in Paris on Monday.

The exchange occurred as foreign ministers from the Group of Seven gathered to address the future of international diplomacy, overlapping with U.S.-mediated peace talks between Russia and Ukraine scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday in Abu Dhabi. Diplomats are pressing for a direct role in any deal to end the war, amid growing anxiety that Washington may pursue a unilateral path that compromises European security.

Rubio Meets Allies Amid Trump's Russia Comments

The Paris meeting serves as the first encounter between Rubio and his allies following last week’s midterm elections, in which President Donald Trump’s Republican Party suffered stunning losses.

Rubio meets Ukraine FM in Paris

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Tensions were further stoked by comments from President Donald Trump hinting at a potential “very big” broader agreement with Russia that could encompass more than just Ukraine. European leaders are wary of any backdoor bargains that could compromise Ukrainian sovereignty or undermine European security guarantees.

Wadephul emphasized that the security framework of the continent is not subject to arbitrary revision. It is certainly neither necessary, nor right, nor appropriate to make a fundamental change to Europe’s security architecture, he stated after his talks with Rubio.

Ukraine’s Stance on Abu Dhabi Talks

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha is set to join the Paris sessions on Tuesday. Before his departure, he issued a direct warning regarding the exclusion of his nation from high-level decision-making processes.

Germany Tells Rubio Europe Must Have a Say in Ukraine Peace Deal — Photo: thenews.com.pk

No one has the right to decide our fate behind our backs,

Andrii Sybiha, Foreign Minister of Ukraine

Wadephul further cautioned that the upcoming Abu Dhabi talks must demonstrate whether Moscow is genuinely prepared to negotiate. With Russian attacks on Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure continuing, he noted that officials see no substantial contribution whatsoever toward negotiations gaining any serious momentum from Moscow.

G7 Talks Address Alliance Stability and Multilateralism

Ministers from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, South Korea and Brazil are also attending the sessions. Beyond the immediate conflict in Ukraine, the G7 agenda reflects deeper concerns about the stability of long-standing alliances. According to Al Jazeera’s Rebecca Collard, reporting from Paris, the first day of talks wrapped up with little clarity on U.S. policy after the midterm elections, and the discussions touch on the future of multilateralism itself.

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But there is something bigger up for discussion, too: The future of the multilateralism that has dominated relations among these countries for decades.

Rebecca Collard, Reporter

Washington’s G7 allies have repeatedly voiced skepticism about the U.S. and Israeli war on Iran and fear that further U.S. military action could deepen the crisis rather than resolve it.