ELMAU CASTLE, Germany: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday called on world powers to do their best to help end Russia’s aggression by the end of the year, as G7 leaders plan new sanctions and pledge support Ukraine “as long as it takes”.
Our President Joe Biden and his counterparts from the Group of Seven wealthy nations, meeting for three days in the Bavarian Alps, promised to tighten the economic screws on Moscow during the February 24 invasion.
They also showed solidarity for Ukraine, even as rising smog from war coupled with rising food and energy prices led to global inflation.
“We will continue to provide financial, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support and stand with Ukraine in times of need,” the G7 said in a statement on the second day of the summit.
Addressing the gathering via video link, Zelenskyy called on leaders to help end the war before winter begins and conditions for his troops become more difficult.
He called on allies to continue applying pressure and “intensifying sanctions” against Moscow, including imposing an oil price ceiling to limit Russia’s energy revenues.
German Chancellor and summit host Olaf Scholz signaled the G7’s readiness to do more, saying “we will continue to increase the pressure on (Vladimir)” Putin. This war has come to an end.”
Among the new steps being discussed by G7 leaders are the cap on the price of Russian oil imports sought by Zelenskyy and sanctions targeting Russia’s defense industry.
Washington meanwhile is planning to send Ukraine sophisticated anti-aircraft missiles, a source familiar with the process told AFP.
Zelensky has long asked its allies to strengthen their defenses against Russian attacks.
The source said it was “likely to appear this week” about the purchase of an “advanced medium to long-range surface-to-air missile defense system”.
The G7 summit – which includes the US, Germany, UK, France, Italy, Japan and Canada – ends on Tuesday.
This was soon followed by a meeting of NATO countries in Spain, where Ukraine was once again expected to dominate the agenda.
Since failing to capture Kyiv early in the war, Russian troops have focused on the area east of the Donbas, where they are gaining a strong position.
Two women have been killed by Russian shelling in the northeastern region of Kharkiv in the past 24 hours, a local official said on Monday, a local official said.
Russian shelling also continued in and around the eastern city of Lysychansk, after Russian forces over the weekend took full control of the twin city and industrial center of Severodonetsk after weeks of communication fierce fighting.
The governor of the Lugansk region, Sergiy Gaiday, said: “Lysychansk and the surrounding villages are having their hardest days. The Russians destroy everything in their path.”
The capture of Lysychansk would give Russia full control of the Lugansk region in the Donbas.
With growing concerns about the fate of Ukrainians in the occupied areas, G7 leaders told Moscow they must “immediately allow the safe return” of their citizens. brought to Russia against their will.
The group also expressed “serious concern” about Putin’s weekend announcement that Russia would deliver nuclear-capable missiles to Belarus in the coming months.
“We urge Russia to behave responsibly and exercise restraint,” it said.
Kyiv meanwhile is reeling from the first Russian attacks on the capital in three weeks. A rocket attack hit a residential building early Sunday morning, Ukraine said, leaving one person dead.
However, Russia denied it had struck a civilian target, and said its forces had attacked the Artyom arms factory in the vicinity.
Moldovan President Maia Sandu visited neighboring Ukraine on Monday.
Her country, one of the poorest in Europe, has received tens of thousands of Ukrainian refugees.
Both countries received candidate status from the European Union last week, although the road to membership in the bloc is set to take years.
G7 members kicked off their meeting on Sunday by announcing plans to ban Russian gold imports, the latest in a series of sanctions aimed at punishing Putin.
A senior US official on Monday said the G7 had also made progress in talks on capping Russian oil prices.
The move would have two goals, the official said: starving the Kremlin’s main source of revenue for the war machine, and forcing down Russian oil prices in hopes of curbing inflation.
However, European Council President Charles Michel said on Sunday that all 27 member states would have to agree to such a price cap, which would require an adjustment of existing sanctions. .
Biden and his G7 counterparts will also announce new sanctions aimed at hampering Russia’s ability to supply weapons, a senior US official said.
The leaders also shared the view that the proceeds of higher trade tariffs imposed on Russian exports should be considered aid to Ukraine “to ensure that Russia pays the price of its war.” himself,” the official added.
One of the most disturbing spillover effects of war is the threat of food shortages in vulnerable countries, as Russia’s blockade of key ports has curbed grain exports. important to Ukraine.
With millions of tons of grain trapped in bunkers, there is growing concern that African nations that rely heavily on Ukrainian deliveries could face starvation.
“We urgently call on Russia to stop … allowing the free movement of agricultural products from Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea,” the G7 leaders said.
Russia denies responsibility for the delivery disruptions and says Western sanctions are to blame.
Non-G7 countries such as Argentina, India, Indonesia, Senegal and South Africa also participated in the summit.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo, who will host the G20 summit in November, said he would also visit Ukraine and Russia in the coming days to ask Putin and Zelensky to open dialogue for peace.
Indonesia, like most major emerging economies, has managed to maintain a neutral stance and Mr. Widodo has not bowed to Western pressure to exclude Mr. Putin from the November meeting.
Our President Joe Biden and his counterparts from the Group of Seven wealthy nations, meeting for three days in the Bavarian Alps, promised to tighten the economic screws on Moscow during the February 24 invasion.
They also showed solidarity for Ukraine, even as rising smog from war coupled with rising food and energy prices led to global inflation.
“We will continue to provide financial, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support and stand with Ukraine in times of need,” the G7 said in a statement on the second day of the summit.
Addressing the gathering via video link, Zelenskyy called on leaders to help end the war before winter begins and conditions for his troops become more difficult.
He called on allies to continue applying pressure and “intensifying sanctions” against Moscow, including imposing an oil price ceiling to limit Russia’s energy revenues.
German Chancellor and summit host Olaf Scholz signaled the G7’s readiness to do more, saying “we will continue to increase the pressure on (Vladimir)” Putin. This war has come to an end.”
Among the new steps being discussed by G7 leaders are the cap on the price of Russian oil imports sought by Zelenskyy and sanctions targeting Russia’s defense industry.
Washington meanwhile is planning to send Ukraine sophisticated anti-aircraft missiles, a source familiar with the process told AFP.
Zelensky has long asked its allies to strengthen their defenses against Russian attacks.
The source said it was “likely to appear this week” about the purchase of an “advanced medium to long-range surface-to-air missile defense system”.
The G7 summit – which includes the US, Germany, UK, France, Italy, Japan and Canada – ends on Tuesday.
This was soon followed by a meeting of NATO countries in Spain, where Ukraine was once again expected to dominate the agenda.
Since failing to capture Kyiv early in the war, Russian troops have focused on the area east of the Donbas, where they are gaining a strong position.
Two women have been killed by Russian shelling in the northeastern region of Kharkiv in the past 24 hours, a local official said on Monday, a local official said.
Russian shelling also continued in and around the eastern city of Lysychansk, after Russian forces over the weekend took full control of the twin city and industrial center of Severodonetsk after weeks of communication fierce fighting.
The governor of the Lugansk region, Sergiy Gaiday, said: “Lysychansk and the surrounding villages are having their hardest days. The Russians destroy everything in their path.”
The capture of Lysychansk would give Russia full control of the Lugansk region in the Donbas.
With growing concerns about the fate of Ukrainians in the occupied areas, G7 leaders told Moscow they must “immediately allow the safe return” of their citizens. brought to Russia against their will.
The group also expressed “serious concern” about Putin’s weekend announcement that Russia would deliver nuclear-capable missiles to Belarus in the coming months.
“We urge Russia to behave responsibly and exercise restraint,” it said.
Kyiv meanwhile is reeling from the first Russian attacks on the capital in three weeks. A rocket attack hit a residential building early Sunday morning, Ukraine said, leaving one person dead.
However, Russia denied it had struck a civilian target, and said its forces had attacked the Artyom arms factory in the vicinity.
Moldovan President Maia Sandu visited neighboring Ukraine on Monday.
Her country, one of the poorest in Europe, has received tens of thousands of Ukrainian refugees.
Both countries received candidate status from the European Union last week, although the road to membership in the bloc is set to take years.
G7 members kicked off their meeting on Sunday by announcing plans to ban Russian gold imports, the latest in a series of sanctions aimed at punishing Putin.
A senior US official on Monday said the G7 had also made progress in talks on capping Russian oil prices.
The move would have two goals, the official said: starving the Kremlin’s main source of revenue for the war machine, and forcing down Russian oil prices in hopes of curbing inflation.
However, European Council President Charles Michel said on Sunday that all 27 member states would have to agree to such a price cap, which would require an adjustment of existing sanctions. .
Biden and his G7 counterparts will also announce new sanctions aimed at hampering Russia’s ability to supply weapons, a senior US official said.
The leaders also shared the view that the proceeds of higher trade tariffs imposed on Russian exports should be considered aid to Ukraine “to ensure that Russia pays the price of its war.” himself,” the official added.
One of the most disturbing spillover effects of war is the threat of food shortages in vulnerable countries, as Russia’s blockade of key ports has curbed grain exports. important to Ukraine.
With millions of tons of grain trapped in bunkers, there is growing concern that African nations that rely heavily on Ukrainian deliveries could face starvation.
“We urgently call on Russia to stop … allowing the free movement of agricultural products from Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea,” the G7 leaders said.
Russia denies responsibility for the delivery disruptions and says Western sanctions are to blame.
Non-G7 countries such as Argentina, India, Indonesia, Senegal and South Africa also participated in the summit.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo, who will host the G20 summit in November, said he would also visit Ukraine and Russia in the coming days to ask Putin and Zelensky to open dialogue for peace.
Indonesia, like most major emerging economies, has managed to maintain a neutral stance and Mr. Widodo has not bowed to Western pressure to exclude Mr. Putin from the November meeting.
