G7 agrees to help Ukraine's energy sector amid Russian attacks

 The Group of Seven (G7) countries have agreed to create a coordination mechanism to help war-torn Ukraine with critical energy and water infrastructure amid Russian grid attacks that have caused widespread blackouts, news agency ANI reported.

The G7 foreign ministers said in an official statement: “Today, we are launching a G7 coordination mechanism to help Ukraine repair, restore and defend its critical energy and water infrastructure.”

Germany held a two-day meeting in the West German city of Muenster to discuss Russia's February 24 invasion of Ukraine, Iran's deepening military ties with Moscow over the war, as well as China's growing assertiveness.

While discussing Ukraine, the G7 member called on Russia to immediately stop its war of aggression against Ukraine and withdraw all its forces and military equipment.

During the meeting, the G7 foreign ministers condemned Russia's recent escalation, including its attack against civilians and civilian infrastructure, especially energy and water facilities, across Ukraine using missiles and Iranian drones and trainers. They said that Russia is trying to terrorize the civilian population with these attacks on Ukraine.

Russia has launched waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure in the past few weeks. Kyiv says they have damaged up to 40 percent of the power system, and Ukrainian authorities have warned that residents may face hour-long blackouts due to limited supplies, ANI reported.

Meanwhile, Ukraine and its Western allies accused Iran of sending "kamikaze" drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), to Russia, which Russian forces used to devastating effect in attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure.

The G7 members also reaffirmed the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and called for a peaceful solution to cross-strait issues.

They further expressed their concern over human rights violations and abuses in Xinjiang and Tibet, as well as the continued erosion of Hong Kong's rights, freedoms, and autonomy.