French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, Canada's Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrive for a group photo during the G7 foreign ministers meeting in La Malbaie, Charlevoix, Quebec on March 13.SAUL LOEB/Reuters
G7 foreign ministers left out any mention of a “two-state solution” to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from their final communiqué to get the United States to agree to language on Russia, according to a source familiar with the matter.
The communiqué released on Friday after a three-day meeting in Charlevoix, Que., instead said there needs to be “a political horizon for the Palestinian people, achieved through a negotiated solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”
Bloomberg first reported that the U.S. agreed to call for more sanctions on Russia in the communiqué if it does not agree to a ceasefire with Ukraine.
The Globe and Mail is not naming the source, who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.
The omission marks a major change in language from the G7 nations as U.S. President Donald Trump pushes ahead his post-war plan for the Gaza Strip that would see the U.S. take over the territory.
It also stands in contrast with the communiqué released at the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting in November, prior to Mr. Trump’s inauguration.
Some European counterparts thought U.S. annexation threats are a ‘joke’ during G7 meeting, Joly says
“All parties must refrain from unilateral actions and from divisive statements that may undermine the prospect of a two-state solution including Israeli’s expansion of settlements, legalization of settlement outposts and any annexation of the West Bank,” the statement said.
The Associated Press reported on Friday that the U.S. and Israel have reached out to three African countries to discuss moving Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to their countries as part of Mr. Trump’s post-war plan.
Prior to the release of the communiqué, Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly reiterated Canada’s support for a two-state solution and suggested that G7 members respected the right to self-determination for both Israelis and Palestinians.
“Canada’s position is clear. We believe in a two-state solution, period,” Ms. Joly said.
“I think that you’ll see in the statement that ultimately Israelis and Palestinians can only live side-by-side if we respect their right to self-determination. And I think that there is strong support for that approach.”
The joint communiqué released by Canada, Italy, France, Britain, Germany, Japan, the European Union and the United States maintained strong language on supporting Ukraine and exerted pressure on Russia to agree to a ceasefire.
The G7 foreign ministers “welcomed” U.S. efforts to secure a ceasefire deal in Saudi Arabia this week and “applauded” Ukraine for agreeing to the U.S. proposal.
“We called for Russia to reciprocate by agreeing to a ceasefire on equal terms and implementing it fully,” the foreign ministers said in their statement.
“We discussed imposing further costs on Russia in case such a ceasefire is not agreed, including through further sanctions, caps on oil prices, as well as additional support for Ukraine, and other means.”
Canada holds the G7 presidency this year and will be hosting the leaders’ summit in June in Kananaskis, Alta.
In recent weeks, there have been divisions between the U.S. and its allies over the Trump administration’s stance on the Ukraine conflict.
The relationships the U.S. has with other G7 members have also been fraught over trade as well as Mr. Trump’s fixation on making Canada the 51st state.
The Trump administration revoked military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine after a hostile reception of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the White House late last month. Both were resumed this week after Ukraine agreed to the U.S. 30-day ceasefire proposal.
The statement from the foreign ministers on Friday also reaffirmed the G7’s support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity, wording that has been used in the past to reaffirm the country’s right to all its territories.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that he agrees with the American proposal to stop fighting with Ukraine but added that a deal would have to address the root causes of the conflict.
Mr. Trump posted on social media Friday that he had a “very good and productive” discussion with Mr. Putin and that there’s a “very good chance” the war with Ukraine can come to an end.
However, he said that Ukrainian troops right now are surrounded by the Russian military, putting them in a “very bad and vulnerable position.”
“I have strongly requested to President Putin that their lives be spared,” Mr. Trump wrote.
Mr. Trump’s comments appear to be in reaction to Russia recapturing territory in the region of Kursk that had been seized by Ukraine.
Mr. Zelensky warned in a social media post on Friday that Mr. Putin will try to “drag everyone into endless discussions” and called for pressure to be placed on Russia to end the war.