G7 announces new sanctions, says “any call for peace” must include withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine

The Group of Seven has revealed this position in a joint statement at the end of a closed-door meeting on Ukraine, which was held on the first day of the summit of leaders in Hiroshima.

“We are imposing more sanctions and measures to increase the cost to Russia and to those who support its war effort,” say the leaders in their statementin which they also renew their commitment to support Ukraine at the financial, humanitarian, military and diplomatic levels.

The G7 details some of its “coordinated sanctions” and other economic measures to cut off Moscow’s financing channels and its use of products and materials that can be used in the military industry, including restrictions on “new key sectors” such as the construction, transportation and business.

The new measures will also try to prevent Russia from circumventing existing sanctions, which includes working with third countries “through which G7-restricted goods, services and technologies can be supplied” to Moscow.

In general terms, the Group of Seven explains that its new actions seek to cut Moscow’s access to the international financial system and “limit its energy income and future extraction capacities,” according to the statement.

It also highlights its willingness to continue reducing its dependence on Russian energy and other raw materials, and to reduce the income that Russia obtains from the diamond trade, for which “it will cooperate with other key countries” in this sector with a view to applying “future restrictive measures”.

USA, Canada and the United Kingdom, at the head of the sanctions

Despite the fact that the G7 wants to show unity, three of the group’s countries (the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom) have led this new wave of sanctions, while another three (Italy, Germany, France) will soon announce a new package agreed within of the European Union.

In line with this joint statement, Japan also plans to expand its list of sanctioned companies and individuals with actors from the construction and industrial manufacturing sectors.

Specifically, according to a senior US official told the press, the United States will include 70 entities from Russia and other countries on a Commerce Department “black list” so that they cannot receive US exports.

In addition, the US Executive will impose 300 new sanctions against individuals, entities, ships and planes that are helping Russia to evade the sanctions imposed by the West for the war in Ukraine or that contribute to financing the conflict, for example through the purchase of energy resources. .

For its part, the United Kingdom has announced that it will ban diamond exports from Russia and veto imports of copper, aluminum and nickel of Russian origin.

As reported by Downing Street – the office and official residence of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak – in a statement, the new economic restrictions will affect 86 individuals and companies linked to the Russian industrial complex and other key sectors for the Russian economy, such as energy, 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, who announced that there will also be sanctions against 30 individuals for human rights violations.

“Complete withdrawal” of Russian troops

In the six-page joint communiqué, the idea of ​​achieving a “comprehensive, just and lasting peace” occupies a prominent place: it appears as the second of the 11 sections of the brief.

Specifically, the G7 considers that a “just peace” cannot be achieved without the “complete and unconditional withdrawal” of Russian troops, although as on other occasions the group avoids specifically committing to Ukraine’s recovery of Russian-occupied territories. like the Crimean peninsula, which Moscow annexed in 2014.

“We urge Russia to end its ongoing aggression and immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw its troops and military equipment from the entire internationally recognized territory of Ukraine. Russia started this war and can end this war,” they say. “We stress that a just peace cannot be realized without the complete and unconditional withdrawal of Russian troops and military equipment, and this must be included in any call for peace.”

The G7 leaders, however, reaffirm their commitment to the approaches to achieving peace made by the Ukrainian president, Volodimir Zelensky.

“With a view to a viable post-war peace agreement, we remain ready to reach agreements with Ukraine, as well as with interested countries and institutions, on sustained security and other commitments to help Ukraine defend itself, secure its future free and democratic and deter future Russian aggression,” the statement said.