G7 establishing coordination mechanism to help Ukraine rebuild its infrastructure

The foreign ministers of the G7 countries said this in a statement posted on the website of the German Foreign Ministry, Ukrinform reports.

"Today we establish a G7 coordination mechanism to help Ukraine repair, restore and defend its critical energy and water infrastructure," the statement said.

The foreign ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, and the High Representative of the European Union said they remain committed to contribute to the recovery, reconstruction and modernization of Ukraine. They also look forward to the December 13 international conference in Paris aimed at supporting Ukraine's civilian resilience, organized by France and Ukraine.

The diplomats once again called on Russia to immediately stop its war of aggression against Ukraine and withdraw all of its forces and military equipment.

Together with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, they condemned Russia's recent escalation, including its attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, in particular energy and water facilities, across Ukraine using missiles and Iranian drones and trainers. Indiscriminate attacks against civilian population and infrastructure constitute war crimes and the G7 foreign ministers reiterated their determination to ensure full accountability for these and crimes against humanity.

The diplomats also called Moscow's nuclear rhetoric unacceptable and emphasized that any use of chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons by Russia would be met with severe consequences.

They also rejected Russia's false claims that Ukraine is preparing a radiological "dirty bomb," noting that the inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that these allegations are baseless.

At the same time, the G7 countries support the IAEA's efforts to establish a Safety and Security Zone around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. The statement condemns Russia's continued seizure and militarization of the nuclear power plant, the abduction and reported abuse of Ukrainian personnel, and the willful destabilization of its operations.

The G7 ministers said that they would continue to impose economic costs on Russia and on other countries, individuals or entities providing military support for Moscow's war of aggression, "as several of us have already done regarding Iran's provision of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) to Russia."

They also reiterated their call for the Belarusian authorities to stop enabling Russia's war of aggression, including permitting Russia's armed forces to use Belarusian territory to launch missiles targeting Ukraine. "If the Belarusian authorities more directly involve Belarus in Russia's war, the G7 will impose overwhelming additional costs on the regime," the statement said.

At the same time, the ministers welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's readiness for a just peace based on respect for Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty, and its legitimate right to defend itself from aggression. "Russia's calls for negotiations are not credible when it continues to escalate the war and issue new threats and disinformation," the statement said.

The diplomats reiterated their unwavering commitment to continue providing the financial, humanitarian, defense, political, technical, and legal support Ukraine needs to alleviate the suffering of its people and to uphold its sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. "We will stand firmly with Ukraine for as long as it takes," the statement said.

The foreign ministers of the G7 countries met on November 3-4 in the German city of Münster.