The G7 foreign ministers, meeting since Sunday in the Japanese city of Karuizawa, have promised to continue “intensifying” sanctions against Russia and have promised to make countries that help Moscow in the war against Russia pay “a very high price”. Ukraine. Coinciding with Putin’s first visit to Ukraine since the start of the war, foreign headlines have reiterated their support for Ukraine “for as long as it takes” to repel Russian aggression.
In addition, diplomats from France, Japan, the United States, Canada, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom have issued a warning to China condemning its military ambitions in the South Sea and its coercion against Taiwan.
The G7 final communiqué considers Russia’s “irresponsible nuclear rhetoric” and its threat to deploy weapons in Belarus “unacceptable”, and ensures that there will be serious consequences for those who are evading the sanctions imposed against Moscow and for third parties that supply weapons to Russian forces: “We will strengthen our coordination to prevent and respond to the supply of weapons to Russia by third parties,” the document states.
While China has yet to provide lethal aid to Russia, US officials are concerned about dual-use items such as electronic components that can be used in missiles and other weapons, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.
The G7 alert also warns of “serious consequences” for Russia if it resorts to the use of nuclear, biological or chemical weapons.
According to Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, who chaired the meeting, the G7 is not contemplating dialogue for peace for now, since “the occupied areas of Ukraine will not be the subject of negotiation.”
The G7 sent these messages to Moscow and Beijing at the close of their meeting held in the Japanese city of Karuizawa, and in which its members (Germany, Canada, the United States, France, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom, in addition to the EU) they have tried to give an image of unity in the face of the common challenges they face.
This family photo comes after French President Emmanuel Macron told the media during his visit to China in April that Europe should not be caught up in “crises that are not its own” in reference to Taiwan, a fact that irritated some of his allies. In this sense, the press release assured that “there is no change in the basic positions of the G7 members on Taiwan”, and considered “essential” the maintenance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
For its part, Beijing has accused diplomats of the G7 countries of “slandering” and “defaming” the country after a statement highly critical of a series of Chinese policies. “The G7 foreign ministers’ meeting ignored China’s solemn position and objective facts. It interfered in China’s internal affairs, maliciously slandered and smeared China,” the G7 spokesman told reporters. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wang Wenbin.
