INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Russia's war in Ukraine has had a "significant impact" on the security of other countries, G7 interior ministers said on Friday, warning of
attacks on key infrastructure and risks posed by returning foreign fighters.German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser reaffirmed the Group of
Seven's "unwavering solidarity" with Ukraine, after hosting two days of talks in the German town of Eltville."The war of aggression against
Ukraine has had a significant impact on the internal security of G7 countries," ministers from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy,
Japan, and the United States said in a joint communique.Europe was stunned earlier this week when a missile blast struck a Polish village
near the Ukrainian border, killing two people and raising fears of a dangerous escalation in the conflict.Kyiv's allies have since said the
conflict.Faeser and her counterparts from the world's biggest economies said that they were closely monitoring the fallout from Russia's
war, including the rise of "hybrid threats" designed to destabilize democracies and spread insecurity."Hybrid threats to our critical
infrastructure, in addition to information manipulation, have increased significantly since the start of Russia's war," the interior
ministers said.The explosions that damaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines between Russia and Germany in September had highlighted "the need
to better protect our critical infrastructure," they added.Sweden on Friday confirmed that the blasts were caused by sabotage
Washington and Moscow have both denied any involvement in the incident and each has pointed the finger at the other."Developing stronger
overall security awareness..
and building partnerships at the national and international level, including with the private sector, is crucial to become more resilient,"
the G7 interior ministers said.They also warned of new threats that could emerge when foreign fighters return home to Ukraine with combat
experience, as well as the risks posed by the increased flow of weapons in the region."A small number" of volunteer fighters in Ukraine
"could pose a heightened threat upon their return," they said.The G7 ministers also pledged to work closely with Ukraine on "a strict arms
control regime" to prevent the illegal trade of firearms and ammunition.
