The Seven (G7) nations group warned Russia on Friday about further sanctions if it does not accept a ceasefire with Ukraine and presented a unified front despite tensions within the block over US President Donald Trump’s approach to allies and Russia.
The meeting at a rural hotel in Quebec confirmed the G7 foreign ministers their support for Ukraine’s “territorial integrity” and condemned Russia’s “aggression”, Language Trump has previously avoided as he seeks approximately Moscow.
A joint statement supported a US-broken proposal for a 30-day truce that Ukraine has accepted, and called on Russia to “reciprocate by accepting a ceasefire on equal terms and implementing it fully.”
In addition, G7 countries discussed “to impose additional costs on Russia if such a ceasefire is not agreed, including through additional sanctions, capsules of oil prices and further support for Ukraine and other funds,” the statement states.
G7 also emphasized the need for “robust and credible security schemes to ensure that Ukraine can deter and defend against any renewed aggression actions”, though not specified what these events would entail.
Trump has previously excluded NATO membership for Ukraine, a step welcome by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Since returning to office, Trump has disagreed allies by directly engaging in Putin and temporarily stopping US military assistance and intelligence, which Ukraine has been dependent on since Russia’s full scale invasion three years ago.
The diplomatic landscape changed on Tuesday when US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and national security adviser Mike Waltz met with Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia and tried to repair ties after a strained visit to Washington by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Ukraine welcomed the US ceasefire, which was later presented to Moscow. Putin has said he is open to the ceasefire, but has required more details, which led Germany and Ukraine to accuse him of stopping.
Trump, who originally hit a settlement tone against Russia, urged Putin publicly to spare the life of Ukrainian soldiers on the front lines.
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