In a statement issued after closed-door meetings, leaders of the Group of Seven nations noted “Our support for Ukraine will not waver,” vowing “to stand together against Russia’s illegal, unjustifiable, and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine.”
“Russia started this war and can end this war,” they said.
The G7 demanded that Russia “immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraws its troops and military equipment from the entire internationally recognised territory of Ukraine”.
It added that “a just peace cannot be realised without the complete and unconditional withdrawal of Russian troops and military equipment and this must be included in any call for peace”.
In the statement, the leaders noted that they would “starve Russia of G7 technology, industrial equipment and services that support its war machine”. The measures will restrict the export of items “critical to Russia on the battlefield”.
The statement goes on to say that the G-7 leaders “expressed their gravest concern over Russia’s grossly irresponsible seizure and militarization of the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant”.
The leaders agreed to continue supporting the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) efforts to strengthen nuclear safety and security in Ukraine.
The G7 nations noted in Friday’s statement that they would work to keep Russia from using the international financial system to prosecute its war, would “further restrict Russia’s access to our economies” and would prevent sanctions evasion by Moscow.
They urged other nations to stop providing Russia with support and weapons “or face severe costs.”
The G-7 leaders made a visit to the Itsukushima shrine on Miyajima island, which is just off the coast of Hiroshima. The two extra people who stood next to the G7 leaders are European Council President, Charles Michel and European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen.
EU Commission President Iterates Need To Give Ukraine Support
EU Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen said, “We need to give Ukraine the tools now to successfully defend itself and regain full sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
“We should provide Ukraine the necessary military and financial support. And we have to do this as long as it takes.”
Ursula von der Leyen
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy made his first-ever visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Friday, May 19, 2023 “to enhance bilateral relations”.
In a tweet, Zelenskyy divulged that he will be at the Arab League summit to discuss the return of all “political prisoners in Crimea and temporarily occupied territories, a formula for peace and energy co-operation”.
Zelenskyy disclosed that he will meet with Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman and hold other bilateral talks. He said he will present his 10-point peace formula as he seeks to engage as many countries as possible.
“Another priority is the protection of the Muslim community of Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said. “Crimea was the first to suffer from the Russian occupation, and most of those who suffer repression in occupied Crimea are Muslims”.
There has been speculation about whether Zelenskyy will attend the G7 summit on Sunday, after a Ukrainian official reported the President would be there in person.
Oleksiy Danilov, Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, confirmed on national television that Zelenskyy would attend the summit.
“We were sure that our president would be where Ukraine needed him, in any part of the world, to solve the issue of stability of our country,” Danilov said on Friday.
“There will be very important matters decided there, so physical presence is a crucial thing to defend our interests,” he added.
