CaliToday (13/11/2025): The Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers concluded their summit in Canada today with a stark and unified message, demanding an "immediate ceasefire" in Ukraine and sounding the alarm over the "catastrophic" humanitarian crisis escalating in Sudan.
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| G7 foreign ministers call for an "immediate ceasefire" in Ukraine |
The joint communique, released after two days of intense negotiations, frames the two conflicts as critical threats to global stability and the rules-based international order.
‘Unwavering Support’ for Ukraine
In their most forceful language this year, the G7 ministers (representing Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States) condemned Russia's continued aggression. The call for an "immediate ceasefire" is a direct response to the battlefield stalemate and the immense human cost as the conflict grinds on.
The statement reaffirmed the bloc's "unwavering support" for Kyiv's sovereignty and territorial integrity. It also pledged to tighten and maintain severe economic sanctions against Moscow, specifically targeting third-party actors enabling Russia's war machine.
"Our message is clear: Russia must end its illegal war of aggression," the statement declared, signaling a united front ahead of a potentially brutal winter. Diplomats at the summit stressed that the ceasefire call is not an endorsement of the current front lines but a necessary first step to halt the "senseless bloodshed" and re-engage in meaningful diplomacy.
A ‘Catastrophic’ Crisis Ignored
Pivoting from Europe to Africa, the ministers expressed "deep alarm" at the devastating civil war in Sudan. The crisis, now raging for over a year, has been largely overshadowed by other global conflicts but has created one of the world's largest displacement and humanitarian catastrophes.
The G7 statement condemned the widespread violence, reports of ethnic cleansing, and the "intolerable suffering" of the Sudanese people. It called for an immediate halt to the fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Crucially, the G7 demanded "unfettered humanitarian access" to all regions of Sudan, where millions are on the brink of famine. The ministers also threatened targeted sanctions against individuals on both sides who are responsible for "perpetuating the violence and obstructing aid."
"The world cannot afford to look away from Sudan," one senior diplomat commented on the sidelines. "The escalation has the potential to destabilize the entire Horn of Africa."
The dual focus of the summit highlights the immense pressure on the G7 to confront simultaneous, large-scale crises. As the ministers departed Montreal, the statement served as a clear declaration of the bloc's priorities, though questions remain about how these strong words will translate into concrete actions on the ground.