G7 foreign ministers convene near Niagara Falls to bolster support for Ukraine
G7 foreign ministers met near Niagara Falls to discuss stepped-up support for Ukraine, while Canada — the meeting host — announced a new round of sanctions aimed at Russian drone programs, cyber infrastructure and energy-sector firms linked to Moscow's war effort.
Sanctions and support for Ukraine
Ukraine's chief diplomat, Andriy Sybiha, who attended the talks, urged partners to help Kyiv expand its "long-range capabilities" to deter further Russian aggression. Standing beside Canada's foreign minister Anita Anand, Sybiha warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin "still has an illusion that he can win," adding that, "in reality, he has lost over one million soldiers and has not achieved a single strategic goal." He called on allies to increase the costs to Putin and his regime for continuing the war.
"We must make the cost of continuing this war unbearable and dangerous for Putin personally and his regime."
— Andriy Sybiha
Ahead of the discussions, Anand announced sanctions targeting organizations Canada says have been used to launch cyberattacks on Ukraine, as well as companies in Russia's liquefied natural gas sector. Vessels believed to be part of Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" — ships accused of transporting oil in defiance of sanctions — were also targeted. Anand described the moves as the first Canadian measures specifically aimed at the IT infrastructure used in "Russia's hybrid strategies against Ukraine."
Britain pledged £13 million (about $17.1 million) to help repair Ukraine's battered energy infrastructure and imposed a maritime services ban related to Russian liquefied natural gas. British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper warned that Putin was "trying to plunge Ukraine into darkness and the cold as winter approaches."
Caribbean tensions and global security
At a working dinner on broader security issues, France's Jean-Noel Barrot raised concerns about the consequences of an expanding U.S. military presence in the Caribbean. He said France had "observed, with concern, military operations in the Caribbean region because they disregard international law," remarks that came after a U.S. aircraft carrier strike group entered a region overseen by U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro accused the U.S. of "fabricating a war" and pursuing regime-change objectives. Barrot urged the G7 to coordinate responses to the global narcotics trade, warning that potential escalations could affect more than one million French citizens in the Caribbean.
Diplomacy amid bilateral tensions
Alongside the seven G7 ministers, representatives from India, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and South Africa attended the Niagara talks as guests. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio conducted a series of brief bilateral meetings, including a scheduled session with Anita Anand.
Trade tensions stemming from the Trump administration's tariff policies remain a source of friction between the U.S. and Canada, with tariffs on autos, steel and aluminum blamed for job losses and weaker growth in Canada. Anand said she did not intend to press Rubio directly on trade during these talks, noting that trade matters are being handled by other ministers.
Takeaway: The meeting reinforced G7 unity on supporting Ukraine with both financial aid and targeted sanctions, while also highlighting wider geopolitical concerns — from Caribbean security to ongoing U.S.-Canada trade disputes.
