Russia - Ukraine Conflict: G7 Nations Meet In Liverpool To Address Concerns

The G7 nations continued talks Saturday in their three-day meeting in Liverpool, England. One important concern has been the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, with the seven most industrialized countries emphasizing “a show of unity against global aggressors.”

The meeting was led by British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, speaking to foreign ministers from the U.S., Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan.

The U.K. has expressed deep concern about Russia's military buildup along the Ukraine border. Ukrainian defense officials say Russia has increased the troop presence to 120,000 military personnel.

“We need to defend ourselves against the growing threats from hostile actors,” Truss said, emphasizing to speak with a unified voice. “We need to come together strongly to stand up to aggressors who are seeking to limit the bounds of freedom and democracy.”

Reuters noted that a senior U.S. State Department official described the meeting as "intense."

Truss and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken had one-on-one talks during the G7 meeting, which lasts until Sunday.

Truss said if Russia invaded Ukraine, "it would be extremely serious, a strategic mistake and there would be severe consequences for Russia and what we are doing this weekend is working with like-minded allies to spell that out."

On Nov. 12, a Kremlin spokesperson said, "Russia doesn’t threaten anyone," and that "the movement of troops on our territory shouldn’t be a cause for anyone’s concern."

“[Russian President Vladimir] Putin sees Ukraine developing into a de facto U.S. and NATO military outpost,” said New York Times reporter Michael Crowley.