US and Europe appear to be diametrically opposed to Russia's war with Ukraine as Washington, on the eve of the three-year anniversary of the start of the war in Ukraine, asks the G7 to use softer language on Russia.
HDN Newsroom
As developments and processes for a peace deal over the war in Ukraine accelerate, the United States and Europe appear to be on different wavelengths when it comes to dealing with Russia.
Washington, on the eve of the three-year anniversary of the start of the Russian invasion and war, is asking the G7 to use soft language.
The Financial Times reports that the US opposed a draft statement by the G7 on the occasion of February 24, the day the war and the Russian invasion began, which spoke of Russian aggression.
Russia is classified as an "aggressor" but the US disagrees with this and other similar wording, five Western officials told the FT. The word "aggression" was present five times in last year's communiqué.
"We're adamant that there should be a distinction between Russia and Ukraine, it's not the same," an official with knowledge of the matter told the FT, adding that "the Americans are blocking this. We are still working on this and hopefully."
President Volodymyr Zelensky's participation has not yet been agreed, the FT reported.
The disagreement, which overturns a climate of unity among the seven states that has prevailed for the past three years, comes as Donald Trump escalates his rhetoric against Zelensky, whom he just yesterday called a "dictator without elections". Trump even said Russia should be invited back to the G7.
The US side insists on toning down its rhetoric on the Ukraine issue, as it speaks of "conflict", as Foreign Minister Marco Rubio did during his meeting in Saudi Arabia with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.
At the same time in Europe, the Commission insists on talking about the lack of democracy in Russia.
European Commission spokesman Stephane de Kirsmacker, when asked about Donald Trump's characterization of Zelensky as a "dictator", replied that "Ukraine is a democracy, Putin's Russia is not."
