G7 leaders this Friday announced new sanctions to make Russia pay for its war in Ukraine and reaffirmed their commitment to help Kiev “as long as necessary”. They also emphasized that a “just peace” requires the “complete and unconditional” withdrawal of Russian troops.
This position was revealed by the Group of Seven in a joint statement at the end of a closed-door meeting on the Ukraine issue, held on the first day of the Leaders’ Summit in Hiroshima.
“We are imposing more sanctions and measures to increase costs for Russia and those who support its war effort. The leaders said in their statementIn which they will also renew their support to Ukraine at the financial, humanitarian, military and diplomatic levels.
The G7 detailed some of its “coordinated sanctions” and other economic measures to cut off Moscow’s funding channels and use of products and materials that could be used in the military industry, including restrictions on “new key sectors” such as construction, transport. and business.
The new measures will also seek to prevent Russia from circumventing existing sanctions, which include working with third countries “through which goods, services and technologies restricted by the G7 can be supplied” to Moscow.
In general, the Group of Seven explains that its new actions are aimed at reducing Moscow’s access to the international financial system and “limiting its energy income and future extraction opportunities”, according to the statement.
It also underlines its willingness to continue reducing its dependence on Russian energy and other raw materials and to reduce the revenue Russia receives from the diamond trade, which “it will work with other key countries” to use in the sector. “Future Deterrence Measures”.
At the head of the sanctions are the USA, Canada and Great Britain
Although the G7 wants to show unity, three of the group’s countries (the US, Canada and the UK) have spearheaded this new wave of sanctions, while another three (Italy, Germany, France) will soon announce a new package agreed within the EU.
In line with this joint statement, Japan also plans to expand the list of sanctioned companies and individuals to include actors in the construction and industrial production sectors.
In particular, a senior US official told the press that the United States will include 70 entities of Russia and other countries in the “black list” of the Department of Commerce, so that they will not receive US exports.
In addition, the US executive will impose 300 new sanctions against individuals, entities, ships and aircraft that help Russia evade Western sanctions for its war in Ukraine or that help finance the conflict, for example through acquisitions. Energy resources..
In turn, Great Britain announced that it will ban the export of diamonds from Russia and veto the import of copper, aluminum and nickel of Russian origin.
The new economic restrictions will affect 86 individuals and companies linked to Russia’s industrial complex and other important sectors of the Russian economy, such as energy, Downing Street – the office and residence of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak – said in a statement. Metals and shipping.
Canada also plans to announce sanctions against 17 individuals and 18 Russian companies that provide the Kremlin with technology for military use, a Canadian official told the CBC, which said it would also sanction 30 individuals for human rights abuses.
“Complete withdrawal” of Russian troops.
In the six-page joint communique, the idea of achieving a “comprehensive, just and lasting peace” occupies a prominent place: it appears as the second of 11 parts of the briefing.
In particular, the G7 believes that a “just peace” cannot be achieved without the “complete and unconditional withdrawal” of Russian troops, although, as in other cases, the group avoids a specific commitment to Ukraine’s recovery of Russian-occupied territories, such as the Crimean peninsula. which Moscow annexed in 2014.
“We call on Russia to stop its current aggression and immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw its troops and military equipment from the internationally recognized territory of Ukraine. “Russia started this war and can end this war,” they say. “We emphasize that a just peace cannot be achieved without the complete and unconditional withdrawal of Russian troops and military equipment, and this must be included in any call for peace.”
However, G7 leaders reaffirmed their commitment to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s approach to peace.
“To fulfill the post-war peace agreement, we are ready to reach agreements with Ukraine, as well as with interested countries and institutions, on sustainable security and other commitments to help Ukraine protect itself, ensure its future is free and democratic. to stop future Russian aggression,” the statement said.
Source: El Diario
