ISTANBUL – The leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) industrialized nations declared on Sunday that if Russia does not cease its “aggression” against Ukraine, they will take further steps.
A video conference was conducted among the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, which was headed by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and also joined by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.
They condemned “Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, backed by Belarus,” according to a statement issued following the meeting.
“The G7 have brought forward massive and coordinated sanctions, including on Belarus as it facilitates the Russian assault,” the statement said.
They demanded that Russia to “immediately stop the ongoing assault.”
“Russia will be held responsible for any damage its military aggression inflicts on Ukraine and its population as well as on internationals and their property,” it added.
Russia’s strike on Ukraine has reached its fifth day, with the most recent reports claiming that Russian troops are on their way to Kyiv, the country’s capital.
The international community reacted with an outcry toward the intervention, with the European Union, UK and US imposing a range of economic sanctions against the Kremlin.
Russia has been further isolated, with its aircraft barred from traveling in European airspace and a number of its banks blacklisted from the SWIFT international banking system.
