(MENAFN- UkrinForm) The G7 countries have pledged to continue to support Ukraine, strengthen sanctions against Russia and, if necessary, against Belarus, as well as work to bring Russian criminals to justice. The foreign ministers of the G7 countries – the UK, Italy, Canada, Germany, the U.S., France and Japan, as well as the EU High Representative – said this in a statement following their virtual meeting on December 22, Ukrinform reports.
According to the statement, Russia's massive and deliberate attacks on Ukraine's critical infrastructure, in particular energy, heating and water facilities, using missiles and Iranian drones, have left millions of Ukrainians in the dark and cold of winter.
'G7 members recalled that indiscriminate attacks, as well as attacks on the civilian population or civilian objects constitute a war crime,' according to a statement posted on the website of the German Foreign Ministry, which chaired the group in 2022.
Diplomats underscored increased efforts to assist the Ukrainian people throughout this winter, including following the international conference held in Paris on December 13, which furthered G7+ efforts to respond to the humanitarian emergency. Resolved to support Ukraine's repair, recovery and reconstruction, G7 members recalled the importance of coordinating on further international support, including in the fields of critical infrastructure and of Ukraine's recovery, and welcomed the recent agreement by G7 Leaders to establish a multi-agency Donor Coordination Platform.
'G7 members committed to enhance and closely coordinate efforts to meet Ukraine's urgent requirements for military and defense equipment, especially air defense. They underlined this is essential to save lives and prevent additional civilian suffering,' the statement said.
The G7 members also reiterated their full resolve to continue coordinating financial, material, humanitarian, defense, political, technical and legal assistance to support Ukraine's defense of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The ministers remained committed to the unprecedented coordinated sanctions measures in response to Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. G7 members will maintain and intensify economic pressure on Russia and those who evade and undermine the restrictive measures. They encouraged third countries to join G7 efforts, including the coordinated action to reduce Russian revenues from the export of oil by leveraging the maximum price per barrel for seaborne Russian-origin crude oil set by the Price Cap Coalition.
G7 members reiterated that Russia's weaponization of energy and food especially impacts the world's most vulnerable and that Russia's spreading of disinformation and false accusations, Russia's irresponsible nuclear rhetoric and Russia's seizure and militarization of Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) are unacceptable.
The statement also contains a warning to Minsk: 'Any further active participation in the Russian illegal war of aggression would run counter to the will and aspirations of the Belarusian people. If the Belarusian authorities more directly involve Belarus in Russia's war, the G7 will impose overwhelming additional costs on the regime.'
The signatories once again called on the Belarusian authorities to stop enabling the Russian war of aggression by permitting Russian armed forces to use Belarusian territory and by providing support to the Russian military.
G7 members commended the bravery of the Ukrainian people in their fight for their country. The G7 firmly supported efforts to secure Ukraine's immediate financial stability and support its recovery and reconstruction towards a sustainable, prosperous future, and encouraged Ukraine's reform agenda. They remained committed to fully supporting Ukraine in securing its free and democratic future in line with its European path.
The ministers again condemned in the strongest possible terms Russia's illegal, unjustifiable, and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine and expressed their full solidarity and unwavering support for Ukraine and its people for as long as it takes. They underscored their steadfast commitment to Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, within its internationally recognized borders.
The foreign ministers reiterated their strong condemnation of Russia's illegal attempted annexation of sovereign Ukrainian territory, which will never be recognized; atrocities committed by Russian armed forces. G7 members underlined there can be no impunity for war crimes and other atrocities. They will hold President Putin and those responsible to account in accordance with international law.
G7 members welcomed and supported President Zelensky's efforts to promote a just and lasting peace. Russia can end this war immediately by ceasing its attacks against Ukraine and completely and unconditionally withdrawing its forces and equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine, within its internationally recognized borders. G7 members again called on Russia to do so 'immediately.'