FT has learned of the US administration's reluctance to call Russia an aggressor

TheUnited States opposes calling Russia an aggressor in the G7 statement, which threatens to disrupt the traditional demonstration of unity. The Financial Times (FT) reported on February 20, citing Western officials.

"The US special envoys object to the phrase 'Russian aggression' and similar descriptions that G7 leaders have used since 2022 to describe the conflict [in Ukraine]," the publication said.

It recalled that "Russian aggression" was mentioned five times in last year's G7 statement. Nevertheless, the administration of US President Donald Trump insists on softening the wording.

According to the authors of the material, this reflects a "shift in US policy" and marks a "departure from the language" used by representatives of the administration of former US President Joe Biden.

Formal diversity: opposing agendas are expected in the G7 and G20

How Canada's and South Africa's actions during the chairmanship year will affect Russia's position

Earlier in the day, the American president's national security aide, Mike Waltz, said that the interests of the United States in the settlement of the conflict in Ukraine coincide with the interests of the Russian side.

Thetalks between the Russian and US delegations took place in Riyadh on February 18. After the meeting, the US State Department said that the sides had agreed to appoint high-level negotiating teams to start work on the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict.