First regularly scheduled meeting of G7 Foreign Ministers under Germany’s Presidency

Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has shaped the agenda of the G7 under Germany’s Presidency in recent weeks. The G7 has shown strong leadership and has been instrumental in meeting Russian aggression with a unified international response thanks to its continuous informal coordination. The three-day meeting in Weissenhaus will give the Foreign Ministers time and space to set aside their routine political business and discuss how the G7 can continue to expand its efforts to end Russia’s cruel war, support the Ukrainian people in their struggle for freedom, independence and peace, and tackle the war’s global repercussions.

Other issues on the agenda are China and the situation in the Indo-Pacific as well as in Afghanistan, Africa and the Middle East.

G7 Presidency guests: Ukraine, Moldova and Indonesia

The Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba previously attended the informal G7 meeting in Brussels on 7 April. The regular meeting in Weissenhaus will be a further opportunity for in-depth discussion with him. Also on the guest list is Moldovan Foreign Minister Nicu Popescu. Moldova has been working extremely hard since the beginning of the war, particularly to welcome and care for refugees from Ukraine. The country’s assessments of the situation in the region are also very valuable for the G7 partners.

Indonesia holds the Presidency of the G20 this year. Foreign Minister Baerbock has therefore invited her counterpart Retno Marsudi to take part in a virtual discussion. This will focus on the global repercussions of the war and on food security, because these issues in particular can only be addressed through joint multilateral efforts and, importantly, in close coordination between the G7 and G20.

Humanity’s greatest challenges must not fall by the wayside

During Germany’s G7 Presidency, Foreign Minister Baerbock is also driving a prevention and transformation agenda to foster energetic joint efforts by the G7, as partners bound by shared values, to tackle challenges such as the global climate crisis and the pandemic and bolster the resilience of democracies. These issues too have been given plenty of space on the Foreign Ministers’ agenda for Weissenhaus. Despite the intensive crisis management that is still ongoing, such major challenges affecting humanity as a whole cannot and must not fall by the wayside.

Venue: Weissenhaus in Schleswig-Holstein on the Baltic coast

The meeting is taking place at Schlossgut Weissenhaus in Schleswig-Holstein. This stately home is more than 400 years old and has a listed park offering natural surroundings for its guests. The compact estate fosters an informal working atmosphere