G7 ministers in Paris confront global crises amid US policy uncertainty

Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven industrialized democracies began two days of talks in Paris on Monday, with clear divisions on multiple global crises and uncertainty over how President Donald Trump will approach foreign policy after his party's heavy midterm election losses. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio faced questions about potential shifts on the Russia-Ukraine war, the Iran conflict, energy security and artificial intelligence, with all sides agreeing on the need to end conflicts quickly but appearing far apart on specifics. Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand said it remains an open question how Washington will proceed, while German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stressed that Europe must be part of any resolution. The talks come amid major protests across Europe, and Trump's envoys are set to meet Ukrainian and Russian officials in the UAE starting Tuesday to discuss potential compromises. Rubio said postwar security guarantees for Ukraine remain a top concern, while noting the sides are not on the verge of a breakthrough with Iran. The administration also signaled it would maintain demands for UN reform and continue its push to dismantle the International Criminal Court.