G7 foreign ministers urge Russia to engage in peace negotiations; Lavrov wants group to guarantee Ukraine’s security; Canada contemplate sending troops to guarantee Ukraine’s security

The foreign ministers of the Group of Seven nations have discussed the situation in Ukraine and urged Russia to engage “sincerely and promptly” in peace negotiations without preconditions.

The ministers held a telephone meeting for roughly one hour on Sunday night, Japan time. Ukraine declared its independence from the former Soviet Union on that day in 1991. Sunday also marked three-and-a-half years since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha also took part in the meeting. From Japan, Senior Deputy Foreign Minister Namazu Hiroyuki attended on behalf of Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi, who is on an overseas trip.

Japan’s foreign ministry says the G7 ministers reaffirmed their solidarity with Ukraine.
It says they also welcomed “the creation of opportunities for a just and peaceful resolution to the aggression,” under US President Donald Trump’s leadership.

The ministers strongly urged Moscow to engage in peace negotiations, and agreed they would continue their close communication and coordination.

The Japanese government conveyed Iwaya’s message. It said Japan welcomed Ukraine’s active engagement under the proactive initiatives of the United States, and reiterated the importance of the G7’s unity to realize an early ceasefire and achieve a just and lasting peace.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in an interview with NBC News, on Sunday says a group of nations, including the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, should guarantee Ukraine’s security after the current conflict ends.

Lavrov who referred to the increasingly active discussions over a security guarantee for Ukraine stressed that Russia’s position should also be respected, saying that “no one can strengthen their security at the expense of the security of others.”

Lavrov recalled negotiations between Russia and Ukraine that took place in Turkey in 2022 during which a proposal was made to create a group of guarantors, including the five permanent members of the Security Council, as well as Germany and Turkey. Russia is one of the permanent members.

US Vice President JD Vance who also spoke to NBC News on Sunday said, “I think the Russians have made significant concessions to President Trump for the first time in three and a half years of this conflict.”

Vance added that what the Russians conceded was the “recognition that Ukraine will have territorial integrity after the war.”

Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has expressed support for security guarantees for Ukraine and indicated that Canada may send troops to the country after a ceasefire with Russia.

Carney visited the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv on Sunday, the anniversary of Ukraine’s 1991 independence from the former Soviet Union. He had talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Carney said Canada is working with its allies and Ukraine on “the modalities of those security guarantees on land, in the air and the sea.”

He added that he “would not exclude the presence of troops.”

Zelenskyy welcomed Carney’s comments and said he expects Canada “to take an active part in the implementation of the security guarantee.”

Ukraine’s Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said in a social media post that she spoke with US special envoy Keith Kellogg, who also attended the Independence Day ceremony.

Svyrydenko said security guarantees are “not limited to military strength, they also encompass political stability and economic resilience.”

Separately, German media reported that the country’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said on Sunday that not just the United States and European nations, but a wide range of countries should take part in security guarantees for Ukraine.

Wadephul was quoted as saying that around 30 countries including Japan had indicated their readiness to participate.