UK seeks unity at G7 meeting over Russia's 'malign behaviour'
Liverpool, December 11
Top diplomats from the Group of Seven industrialised nations gathered beside the River Mersey in Liverpool, with host country Britain seeking “a show of unity against global aggressors” amid a crisis over Russia’s intentions towards Ukraine.
The UK is seeking elusive consensus from the wealthy nations’ club in response to what it calls “malign behaviour” by Russia, and over tensions with China and Iran.
As a Salvation Army band played Christmas carols, British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss greeted US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other G-7 counterparts with fist bumps in the rotunda of the modernist Museum of Liverpool at the start of the two-day talks.
“We need to defend ourselves against the growing threats from hostile actors,” Truss said as she opened the meeting of foreign ministers from the UK, the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan.
“And we need to come together strongly to stand up to aggressors who are seeking to limit the bounds of freedom and democracy.” Truss and Blinken met late Friday and “expressed deep concern about a buildup of Russian troops on Ukraine’s border,” the British government said.
The two politicians said “any incursion by Russia would be a strategic mistake for which there would be serious consequences”. — PTI
