Group of Seven foreign ministers opened two days of talks in Paris on Monday, with Ukraine’s energy needs, the war in Iran and the security of advanced artificial intelligence among the issues facing Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his counterparts.
Ukraine and the Middle East lead the agenda
The French Foreign Ministry’s agenda calls for talks on military capabilities, financing and energy support for Ukraine, as well as efforts to stabilize the Middle East and diversify energy supplies. France invited Ukraine, Brazil, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and South Korea to take part alongside the G7.
The opening day also exposed disagreements. The Associated Press reported that Rubio played down the prospect of an imminent breakthrough with Iran while reiterating the administration’s preference for diplomacy. Rubio raised U.S. concerns about the International Criminal Court in a meeting with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas defended the court.
What to watch as the talks continue
France is also seeking coordination on advanced AI safety and faster delivery of humanitarian supplies. A related meeting in Marseille brings together the G7+ Ports Network for the first time to share ways of countering drug trafficking through ports.
A separate donor conference in Paris focuses on repairing the protective arch at Chernobyl, which France says was severely damaged by a Russian strike in 2025. The foreign ministers’ meeting runs through Tuesday. France’s published agenda describes what governments intend to discuss. Any joint commitments will depend on what the ministers agree to during the talks.