The United States has opposed the mention of Russia as an ''aggressor'' in the statement made at the G7 meeting on the occasion of the third anniversary of the start of the war in Ukraine, five Western officials familiar with the situation told the Financial Times.
According to information, the Trump administration is different from the European Union's (EU) views that Moscow bears primary responsibility for the war in Ukraine.
The publication notes that the disagreements over the statement arose after US President Donald Trump accused Ukraine of still being at war, called Zelensky “a dictator without elections“ and suggested that Russia be readmitted to the G7.
According to Western officials, US representatives have objected to the phrase “Russian aggression“ and similar language that G7 leaders have been using since 2022 to describe the war in Ukraine.
Instead, the Trump administration is proposing to use the term “Ukrainian conflict“, two officials familiar with the situation told the FT.
The publication notes that similar wording can be traced in recent statements by the US State Department, in particular in the report on the meeting between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. The document mentions “the conflict in Ukraine“ twice.
Financial Times: US now opposes reference to Russia and Putin as ''aggressors''
According to information, the Trump administration is different from the European Union's views that Moscow bears primary responsibility for the war in Ukraine
Feb 20, 2025 22:03 107
