PARIS - Foreign ministers of the Group of Seven industrialized nations reaffirmed their support for Ukraine amid Russian attacks and criticized China for providing Russia with weapons that enable the war to continue in a joint declaration issued Wednesday following their talks in Paris.
The show of unity toward the Eastern European country came amid lingering concerns that U.S. President Donald Trump is pivoting toward the Kremlin.
"We reaffirmed our unwavering support to Ukraine and its courageous people as they defend their territorial integrity, sovereignty, freedom, and independence," the ministers said in the declaration following the two-day gathering that ended Tuesday and involved Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, as well as the European Union.
"We reiterated our support to ongoing U.S.-led efforts to facilitate peace through direct and serious negotiations. We reaffirmed the importance of securing a full, comprehensive, and reciprocal ceasefire," it added.
The ministers also said they "condemned the provision of military assistance to Russia by North Korea and Iran, and the provision of weapons, military training and dual-use components by China, which enables the continuation of the war."
"We made clear our intention to continue to take action against these countries," they said.
On the Indo-Pacific region, the G7 members said China's increasingly assertive activities in the waters east of Taiwan "threaten regional stability, freedom of navigation and the safety of international shipping."
"We stressed the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait," the joint declaration said.
The Communist-led mainland, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory, has vowed to bring the self-ruled democratic island under its control, by force if necessary.
