The G7 has agreed to extend
sanctions imposed on Russia for its role in the Ukraine crisis, the Interfax
news agency reported Friday.
The G7 group of world leaders is
concerned about the deteriorating situation in the south-east of Ukraine, a
document published on Japan's Foreign Ministry website said. They also repeated
their refusal to recognize Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula.
“We recall that the duration of
sanctions is clearly linked to Russia’s complete implementation of the Minsk
agreements and respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty. Sanctions can be rolled back
when Russia meets these commitments,” the statement said.
The statement stressed the
importance of continuing the dialogue with Russia, but maintained that further
sanctions could be put in place if the situation deteriorated.
“We recognize the importance of
maintaining dialogue with Russia in order to ensure it abides by the
commitments it has made as well as international law and to reach a
comprehensive, sustainable and peaceful solution to the crisis,” the
declaration said. “ However, we also stand ready to take further restrictive
measures in order to increase cost on Russia should its actions so require.”
The United States, European Union
and a number of other countries imposed economic and travel sanctions against
Russia in 2014 following the annexation of Crimea. Russia responded to the
restrictions with a ban on food imports from Western nations.
The G7 talks bring together world
leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the
United States and the European Union.
Russia was barred from attending the
high-level talks due to their actions in the ongoing Ukrainian crisis.
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