G7 diplomats meet Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha in Paris

G7 diplomats have shifted their focus to supporting Ukraine in its conflict with Russia as US-mediated talks between the two nations and Ukraine get underway in Abu Dhabi.

In Paris, a meeting is taking place today between top G7 officials and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, where they will discuss defense and security assistance for Ukraine. The talks are being held at the French foreign ministry, with all seven G7 member countries represented.

The US has recently reduced its support for Ukraine's defense efforts, prompting concern from European capitals, including Paris, Berlin, Rome, and London.

The exact nature of any new assistance that may be announced is currently unclear, although it is likely to be a major topic of discussion during today's meeting between the G7 diplomats and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Sybiha.

The diplomatic efforts to bring an end to the Ukraine conflict have intensified in Abu Dhabi, where US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are set to meet Russian and Ukrainian officials.

Their talks aim to persuade Moscow to agree to broader negotiations involving key European officials, who have been pushing for a seat at the table. However, two US officials have revealed that representatives from Britain, Germany, France, NATO, and the EU will not join the main discussions but instead focus on potential security guarantees and long-term security architecture between Russia and Europe.

Russian officials have consistently resisted European participation in negotiations, insisting that talks should remain strictly trilateral involving Russia, Ukraine, and the US. The last round of talks took place in February. Despite this stance, German Foreign Minister Johan Wadephul has reiterated the importance of European involvement.

Wadephul met with Rubio on the sidelines of the G7 meeting in Paris and emphasized that Europe must be included in the negotiations. He expressed gratitude for the US efforts to bring parties to the conflict together but stressed that a solution is impossible without European participation.

The G7 meeting concluded with a focus on Ukraine, as US-mediated talks began in Abu Dhabi.

Rubio emphasized that the US has no issue with European involvement in direct negotiations but feels it's premature at this stage. He described the situation as having "a ways to go" before it can be considered beneficial. The US senator expressed appreciation for the efforts made so far to bring parties together, however.

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues unabated, with both sides refusing to compromise on their demands. Monday saw further escalation, with Russia's attack on Ukraine's power grid and Ukrainian forces targeting one of Russia's largest oil refineries.