Germany’s foreign minister on Monday rejected Russia’s proposal for negotiations on a new security architecture for Europe, insisting instead on the restoration of past agreements that guarantee borders.
Johann Wadephul made the remarks as he prepared to join a meeting of G7 foreign ministers in Paris, where Ukraine’s foreign minister is also taking part.
“Europe does not need a new security architecture — as Russia wants us to believe — but rather the simple restoration of the existing security architecture,” Wadephul said, referring to the framework established by the Helsinki Final Act of 1975, the Charter of Paris from 1990 and the 1994 Budapest Memorandum.
“All of these are aimed at guaranteeing all borders and the sovereign equality of all states,” Wadephul said. “These are essential prerequisites for revitalizing the global economy — a core task for the world’s seven leading democratic economies.”
The comments follow remarks by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov last week at a conference in Minsk. Lavrov blamed Western countries for the war in Ukraine and proposed the creation of “a pan-Eurasian architecture” open to European nations that would replace the current system centered on Euro-Atlantic institutions.
Europe pushes for role in Ukraine talks
At the G7 gathering, Wadephul said officials would thoroughly discuss the latest efforts to find a diplomatic solution to the war between Russia and Ukraine, Europe’s role in the talks and planned security guarantees for Kyiv.
“Europe must be part of the solution,” he stressed. “For this reason, we — together with France and Great Britain — will put forward European positions.”
France is hosting a two-day meeting of foreign ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) leading advanced economies — the United States, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Canada — along with invited partners. In addition to diplomatic developments, the officials are expected to discuss economic support for Ukraine and sanctions on Russia to increase pressure on Moscow ahead of negotiations.