The G7 countries pledged to continue helping Ukraine defend itself against the Russian invasion, as well as to approve new sanctions against Russia
The G7 countries also committed to increasing “the cost of war for Russia, degrading its sources of income and hindering its efforts to build its war machine”, and to “apply and fully enforce sanctions against” the country. Other measures may be adopted, “if necessary”.
The position of the G7 – a group of the seven most industrialized democracies in the world – is contained in a final declaration released after a video conference meeting, chaired from Kiev by the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni.
In the joint statement, cited by the EFE agency, the leaders of Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, Japan, Germany and Canada stated that they “will continue to support Ukraine’s right to self-defense” and reiterated “the commitment to long-term security Ukraine’s deadline, namely through the conclusion and implementation of bilateral security commitments and agreements”, based on the Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine approved in Vilnius last July.
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, stated at the G7 summit that his country counts on the help of democratic powers to protect the Ukrainian people and defeat Russia in the war that is two years old today.
“We are counting on you”, said Zelensky, who reaffirmed his confidence in a “common victory” of the allied countries over Russia, before the Prime Ministers of Italy and Canada, Giorgia Meloni and Justin Trudeau, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula Von der Leyen, who today visited the Ukrainian capital on the occasion of the second anniversary of the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“We often hear that history is watching us, and it is absolutely true,” said the Ukrainian leader about the historical importance of the moment his country is going through.
Addressing all the leaders of the G7 (bloc of the world’s seven largest economies) – those who were not present in Kiev, followed the speech from a distance – the Ukrainian head of state added that they must be aware of Ukraine’s needs to protect itself from air strikes, reinforce its land troops, and fight Russia at sea as well.