G7 wants to stop Russia from 'starving' Ukrainians this winter

"We will not allow the brutality of this war to lead to the mass death of elderly people and children, young people or families in the coming winter months," German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Thursday. at the opening of a G7 meeting in Münster, western Germany.

The head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, accused Vladimir Putin of "waiting for General Winter to arrive to support the Russian army".

"They are bombing, they are destroying the civilian infrastructure of millions of Ukrainians who no longer have access to electricity. What Putin is ready to do is to plunge the country into darkness," he said. lamented.

Faced with the intensification of Russian strikes on civilian equipment, the group of seven industrialized countries, which meets until Friday, will coordinate its aid to deliver "water pumps, heating appliances, housing containers and sanitary facilities, beds, blankets, tents," Ms Baerbock said.

- Tension with Pyongyang -

Ms. Baerbock, whose country holds the presidency of the G7 until the end of the year, denounced the "perfidious methods" of Russia in its way of waging the war.

Many Ukrainian cities, including the capital kyiv, have been subjected to bombardments in recent weeks which particularly target civilian equipment, causing water and electricity cuts.

Europeans and Americans have already provided massive economic and military aid to kyiv since the start of the Russian offensive on February 24.

Another international meeting of support for Ukraine will take place on December 13 in Paris, recalled the head of French diplomacy Catherine Colonna.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba is to intervene by videoconference during this meeting in Münster, according to diplomatic sources.

"This G7 ministerial comes at an important time for us," a senior US diplomat told reporters, stressing that the group is "vital to create coordination mechanisms" for the international community's response to crises in course, from the war in Ukraine to North Korea.

In this regard, Ms Baerbock, as President of the G7, said she "strongly" condemned the new ballistic missile launch carried out by Pyongyang on Thursday, the day after a record salvo of shots which brought the tension in the region.

- China, a "rival" country -

The meeting, under German presidency before Japan took over in January, also comes against the backdrop of changes in government in Italy and the United Kingdom in particular, causing another American diplomat to say on condition of anonymity that he was necessary to ensure that everyone is on the same wavelength.

The energy crisis in Europe at the approach of winter and the situation in Iran, shaken by bloody demonstrations and violently repressed, are also at the center of the discussions.

The US and German ministers jointly launched strong support for the protests in Iran.

"Among the things we are trying to do together is to ensure that Iranians have the ability to communicate with each other and with the world outside," said Antony Blinken, insisting on "technological" support. brought by the United States to the demonstrators.

Relations with Beijing will be discussed at a working dinner, amid German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's controversial visit to China on Friday. The latter promised on Wednesday not to "ignore controversies" with Beijing during this trip.

The G7 countries are ready to consider China not only as a "partner" but as a "competitor" and a "rival", said Ms. Baerbock in this regard.

The G7 brings together the United States, Canada, Japan, France, Great Britain, Italy and Germany.