Summit in Hiroshima
G7 calls on Russia to withdraw troops from Ukraine
The heads of government of the G7 countries meet in Hiroshima, Japan for their annual consultations. photo
© Michael Kappeler/dpa
The G7 are demanding an end to the war in Ukraine from Russia and are backing up punitive measures against Russia. The new sanctions are aimed at Moscow’s lucrative commodity trade.
The G7 of leading democratic economic powers has again urged Russia to withdraw its troops completely from Ukraine. “Russia started this war and can end this war,” said a statement adopted by the heads of state and government at the Hiroshima summit in Japan.
“We underscore that there can be no just peace without the complete and unconditional withdrawal of Russian troops and military equipment, and any call for peace must take this into account.”
At the site where the first atomic bomb was dropped in 1945, the G7 issued a statement reminding Russia that even the threat of using nuclear weapons was unacceptable. The Heads of State and Government also reaffirm their readiness to continue supporting Ukraine, including militarily, in line with Ukraine’s needs. However, they do not become more specific. The statement does not go into the discussion about the delivery of western-style fighter jets.
Economic sanctions against Russia
The G7 countries had previously announced that they would further restrict Russia’s commodity trade, which is worth billions. Shortly before the start of the summit meeting of the group of states in Hiroshima, Japan, the USA and Great Britain announced new punitive measures from among the leading democratic industrial nations.
London wants to impose an import ban on Russian diamonds as well as copper, aluminum and nickel from Russia. Among other things, the US plans to cut off about 70 companies and organizations from Russia and other countries from US exports, a government official said in Hiroshima.
The United States wants to impose other penalties on more than 300 people, companies and organizations, ships and planes. Great Britain also wants to punish 86 people and companies.
Even before the meeting, it had become known in Hiroshima that all G7 countries wanted to limit the export of rough diamonds from Russia. A corresponding summit declaration should be decided, as diplomats from the German Press Agency said.
The diamond trade is a good source of income for Russia. The state sponsor Alrosa achieved 332 billion rubles (around 4 billion euros) in 2021 – the last year in which it disclosed figures. Russia is the world’s largest producer of rough diamonds.
Goal: pressure on Russia
Since the Russian attack on Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the West has imposed unprecedented punitive measures, including far-reaching trade restrictions. The G7 also want to discuss how they can better enforce existing sanctions and plug loopholes.
The US official said all G7 countries are preparing new sanctions and export controls. He did not want to comment on the partners’ plans in detail. “But the United States will launch an extensive package of measures of its own.” The aim is to increase the economic pressure on Russia and make it even more difficult to maintain its war machine.
The plan is to further restrict access to goods that are important on the battlefield, said the senior US government official. It is about financial and other supporters of Russia. The sanctions hit targets in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. In addition, sanctioning powers should be extended to the digital sector of the Russian economy.