Strasbourg, 08/06/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 8 June, leaders from G-7 countries (Germany, France, Italy, United Kingdom and Canada, US, Japan) asserted that they were prepared to step up sanctions against the Russian Federation. This announcement was made a few days after the violent clashes that have taken place in the East of Ukraine, which the EU described as “the most serious violation of the ceasefire since the Minsk agreements last February” (see EUROPE 11328).
Given concerns about increased fighting along the line of contact, G-7 leaders said in their final statement that they were “ready to take further restrictive measures in order to increase the cost on Russia should its actions so require”. During her press conference, Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, added that the G-7 would do this “even if we do not want to”.
The leaders pointed out that the duration of the sanctions should be clearly linked to complete implementation of the Minsk agreements and Russia's respect for Ukraine's sovereignty. They also said: “They can be rolled back when Russia meets these commitments”.
The G7 is therefore reiterating its appeal for all parties to fully implement the Minsk agreements, respect the ceasefire and withdraw heavy weapons from the frontline. The leaders added: “We expect Russia to stop trans-border support of separatist forces and to use its considerable influence over the separatists to meet their Minsk commitments in full”.
Before the Summit, the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, already highlighted the fact that “given the current situation, if someone wanted to launch a debate on modifying the sanctions regime, discussions could only be on the sanctions being tightened”. The European Council is expected, in this way, to extend the sanctions against Russia until December 2015 and link them to the Minsk agreements, during the next meeting of heads of state and EU governments on 25-26 June.
Setting up G7 support group for Ukraine
G-7 leaders sought to express their support for the measures taken by the Ukrainian government to implement the extensive range of structural reforms, whilst reminding it of the need to continue them in compliance with the commitments made to the IMF and EU. In this context, they called on “the G-7 ambassadors to Kiev to set up a support group for the Ukraine” so that the economic reform process could continue in the country. This group would provide Ukraine with “coordinated advice and assistance”. (Camille-Cerise Gessant)