Leaders of the world’s seven richest nations, known as the G7, on Monday, June 27, 2022, promised to keep supporting Ukraine “for as long as it takes” on the second day of a summit in Germany.
In a statement, the G7 group noted that Russia must stop blocking food from leaving Ukraine’s ports. Addressing the summit via video-link, Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, appealed for more heavy weapons from Western allies.
At the same time, G7 leaders are under pressure to be united in their approach against increasing Russian aggression. “We will continue to provide financial, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support and stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes,” they stated in a statement on Monday, June 27, 2022.
“We remain appalled by and continue to condemn the brutal, unprovoked, unjustifiable and illegal war of aggression against Ukraine by Russia and aided by Belarus.”
G7 Leaders in a joint Statement
The G7 leaders, made up of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US, are being joined in Bavaria, a city in Germany, by two representatives from the European Union (EU).
Talks Over Russia’s Attack
The high-level talks are being held while Russian forces continue their attacks on Eastern Ukraine, where officials disclosed that a busy shopping centre was struck by a missile in the city of Kremenchuk, killing at least two people.
Dialling into the venue where the summit is being held, Ukraine’s Zelensky asked for more heavy weapons for Ukraine and said he hoped the war would be over by the end of the year “before winter sets in”. However, there are concerns that harsh winter conditions will make battle conditions tougher for Ukraine’s troops.
But Mr. Zelenskyy also urged Western allies to keep the pressure on Russia with more sanctions.
What the G7 is Planning
In their joint statement, the G7 leaders noted that they remain committed to “sustaining and intensifying” sanctions against Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin, as well as enablers in neighbouring Belarus. There will also be sanctions on gold and oil exports and also “targeted sanctions on those responsible for war crimes”, the joint statement disclosed.
The G7 also demanded that the Kremlin allow food to leave Ukraine’s ports, as it blamed Moscow for rising threats to global food insecurity as a result of the conflict. This us because much of Ukraine’s highly valued grain exports are in danger of rotting in local warehouses as Russian forces continue blocking Ukraine’s ports on the Black Sea.
“We urgently call on Russia to cease, without condition, its attacks on agricultural and transport infrastructure and enable free passage of agricultural shipping from Ukrainian ports.” the G7 statement noted.
Meanwhile, an investigation also found evidence that Russian forces in occupied areas of Ukraine have been systematically stealing grain and other produce from local farmers. Speaking from the summit, UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, told the reporters that “the price of freedom is worth paying” in supporting Ukraine, and that help must continue to be offered to rebuild its economy, export grain and protect its citizens.
While the G7 leaders were meeting on Monday, June 27, 2022, reports emerged that Russia defaulted on its debt for the first time since 1998, after missing a $100m payment deadline. However, the Kremlin said the issue is “not our problem”, because the payment was made in May 2022, but is blocked due to Western sanctions.
READ ALSO: 2024 Parliamentary elections: Watch out for me – KK Fosu
