Comment on this story
comment
MUNSTER, Germany — Top diplomats from the world’s main industrialized democracies agreed on Friday to pool their efforts to help Ukraine repair and defend its energy and water infrastructure, which has come under relentless attack by Russian cruise missiles and self-detonating drones.
The plan to strengthen Ukraine ahead of the harsh winter months was cemented on the second day of the Group of Seven meetings here in this historic German city. The symbolic importance of the meeting place – the same place where the Treaty of Westphalia that ended the Thirty Years’ War was signed – was underscored by some of the diplomats in attendance, who said the Russian invasion had challenged the centuries-old world order Agreements helped set it up.
“If we allow this to be challenged with impunity, the foundations of the international order will begin to erode and eventually collapse, and none of us can afford to allow that to happen,” Foreign Minister Antony Blinken said in a speech alongside the German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock.
Missiles hit Ukraine as Russia hits infrastructure in fresh airfire
The G-7 declaration signed by each nation announced the establishment of a “coordination mechanism” to help Ukraine “repair, restore and defend its critical energy and water infrastructure.” No timetable for implementation was set, but diplomats who attended the event said it was important to act immediately given the onset of winter.
Russian President Vladimir Putin “seems to have decided that if he cannot take Ukraine by force, he will try to freeze it into submission,” Blinken told reporters at a news conference.
The meetings of ministers from the United States, Germany, France, Britain, Japan, Canada and Italy also included talks on providing Ukraine with sophisticated air defense systems to counter volleys of Russian missile and drone strikes, officials said said.
Ukraine wants more air defense. That’s how it works.
The decision to strengthen Ukraine’s infrastructure followed a remote video briefing by Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Thursday, which was interrupted by a power outage due to chronic energy shortages.
With the link restored, Kuleba finished updating countries on the extensive damage inflicted on Ukraine’s infrastructure by Iran-provided drones and appealed for more global support and pressure on Russia. Forty percent of Ukraine’s power system was damaged by Russian attacks that left 4.5 million people without power across the country, including 450,000 residents in Kyiv.
“They discussed what needs Ukraine faces as we head into winter,” said a senior State Department official, who, like some others interviewed for this report, spoke on condition of anonymity related to sensitive considerations to discuss with the war. “It’s something that will be a major focus of this group over the coming days and weeks.”
A French official said the West is focused on how to help residents of Ukrainian cities survive the winter by providing generators, fuel and spare parts to areas struggling to meet their power and heating needs.
Winter is approaching in Ukraine – and an endurance battle awaits you
The discussion came at another turning point in the war. While some US officials are questioning Ukraine’s ability to completely oust Russia from the occupied territories, Ukrainian forces continue to make battlefield gains, including around the southern city of Kherson, which Russia has held for months.
A US defense official is expected to speak dynamically over the next few weeks, commenting on detailed internal assessments on condition of anonymity. said this week. Russian military leaders have retreated to the east bank of the Dnieper outside of Kherson, exposing rank and file troops to Ukrainian attacks. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin told reporters Thursday that Ukraine was “certainly” able to retake any territory west of the river.
Why Putin will fight for Kherson: freshwater and land bridge to Crimea
On Friday, the Pentagon announced that it will pay for 45 Czech T-72 tanks to be overhauled and shipped to Ukraine. This is part of a new $400 million military aid package that also includes drones, anti-aircraft missiles, riverboats and money to overhaul the M1117 armored vehicles. The Netherlands also pays for the overhaul and shipment of another 45 Czech tanks.
Work is underway to send more weapons to Ukraine, both from the United States and from allies in Europe. Ukraine is expected to need a significant amount of artillery as it fires between 4,000 and 7,000 rounds a day, the US defense official said, estimating the Russian number at about 20,000.
In Germany, the Group of Democracies issued a strong warning to Russia against using nuclear weapons in Ukraine and dismissed Moscow’s claims that Ukraine was preparing to detonate a “dirty bomb”.
“Russia’s irresponsible nuclear rhetoric is unacceptable,” the statement said. “Any use of chemical, biological or nuclear weapons by Russia would have serious consequences.”
Russia’s dirty bomb claims first surfaced late last month, sparking phone calls between US officials, allies and Russian leaders. Concerns about the issue have “gone down a bit” since then, the US defense official said.
The talk of Russian military leaders about a nuclear attack shakes the calculations of the US
Unease with Russia’s nuclear rhetoric was evident in Beijing on Friday Chancellor Olaf Scholz urged China’s President Xi Jinping to use his “influence” over Putin to help resolve the war. Xi said nations should “oppose the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons,” but he called the international situation “complex” and urged all nations to “exercise rationality and restraint.”
Responding to Xi’s comments, German Foreign Minister Baerbock said she was “pleased to hear” that a key Russian ally is sending a “very important signal” against the possible use of nuclear weapons. “Russia,” she said, “is completely isolated.”
Still, Scholz’s trip to China has divided Western countries, some of which have complained that Germany is repeating the mistakes it made before the war in Ukraine by making itself too dependent on the affairs of an authoritarian regime.
While US and British officials have raised concerns about the visit, the first by a G-7 leader since Xi cemented his power at the ruling party’s congress, other Western officials have warned against taking an explicitly antagonistic stance towards Beijing.
“It’s clear that China is … becoming much more confident, much more on a confident course,” Josep Borrell, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, told reporters at the G-7. “But right now, many member states have strong economic ties with China, and I don’t think we can put China and Russia on the same footing.”
In the negotiated G-7 statement, the countries said they seek “constructive cooperation with China” but also warned Beijing against trying to resolve disputes through “threats, coercion, intimidation or the use of force”.
The meeting comes as the G-7 countries finalize the details of a price cap on Russian oil. The unprecedented plan could deprive Russia of oil revenues, which are crucial to funding the Kremlin’s war machine. However, the complex arrangement also harbors the risk of rising gas prices.
Asked if he could reassure the move wouldn’t raise gas prices, Blinken said “we’ll see how that plays out,” but he believes the negotiated plan will keep enough energy in the market while maintaining revenue for the Kremlin would decrease.
On Friday, the G-7 countries met to review the challenges facing Central Asian countries as a result of the war in Ukraine. They are also focused on working with African countries on climate change, coronavirus and food and energy security, the US official said.
Lamothe reported from Washington. Karoun Demirjian in Washington contributed to this report.