Meeting in the presence of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Hiroshima at the weekend, the leaders of the G7 countries reiterated their willingness to support the Ukrainians “for as long as necessary” in the face of Russian military aggression, and to make Russia pay for the crimes committed in Ukraine.
The G7 promises to intensify diplomatic, financial, humanitarian and military efforts to support the Ukrainian authorities. Among the new pledges of military equipment, the US has lifted its veto on the supply of F-16s, including through a coalition led by the UK and the Netherlands. Allied countries will also provide pilot training for these fighters.
Following a bilateral meeting with Mr Zelensky, European Council President Charles Michel also supported the start of work to provide macrofinancial assistance to Ukraine “after 2023”.
The G7 countries are determined to deprive Russia of the technologies, industrial equipment and services that help sustain its war machine. And third countries that directly support Moscow or help circumvent the economic sanctions imposed will face “severe costs”, they say.
Believing that the cap on Russian oil and refined petroleum product prices is working, the G7 will continue to reduce its dependence on Russian fossil fuels, want to reduce Moscow’s metals revenues and will work to reduce the trade in diamonds mined in Russia “through future coordinated restrictive measures, including tracing technologies”.
Finally, the G7 countries will continue to act to “freeze, seize and, where appropriate, confiscate” the assets of individuals and entities supporting Russian military aggression, with such assets to remain “immobilized until Russia pays for the damage it has caused to Ukraine”.
See the G7 statement on Ukraine: https://aeur.eu/f/6zv
See the Hiroshima Communiqué of the G7 Heads of State or Government: https://aeur.eu/f/6zo (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)