New York [US], September 20 (ANI): The G7 members at the group’s Foreign ministers’ meeting reaffirmed their commitment to stand with Ukraine for “as long as it takes” and unequivocally condemned Russia’s “war of aggression”. Kamikawa Yoko, Japan‘s Minister for Foreign Affairs, hosted the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New York City on Tuesday.
Even after a year since Russia initiated a full-scale ‘invasion’ of Ukraine, the hostilities on either side have yet to stop. “The G7 members once again reaffirmed their commitment to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes and unequivocally condemned in the strongest possible terms Russia’s war of aggression and its violation of international law, including the UN Charter,” the US State Department said in a statement citing the Japanese Foreign Ministry.
The members also issued a strong condemnation of the escalation of attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure. “Russia must withdraw its troops and military equipment from the internationally recognized territory of Ukraine immediately, completely, and unconditionally,” the G7 members added in the statement.
They further reaffirmed their pledge to provide security, financial, humanitarian, recovery, and reconstruction support to Ukraine. “They reaffirmed their intention to work with Ukraine on specific, bilateral, long-term security commitments and arrangements. They will continue to help repair and restore Ukraine’s civil and critical infrastructure as well as to support its domestic reform efforts, especially in the fields of anti-corruption, the justice system and promotion of the rule of law, in line with its European path,” the statement added.
They informed that 29 countries and institutions have already joined this endeavour while encouraging others to follow suit. The G7 members also condemned Russia’s staging of sham “elections” in the illegally occupied territories of Ukraine. “Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia oblasts and Crimea are part of Ukraine. They will never recognize Russia’s illegitimate claims to sovereign Ukrainian territory and call on all States to unequivocally reject them,” the statement added.
Further, highlighting the Ukrainian ‘peace formula’, the G7 members reiterated their determination to support concrete efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine “including the further development of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Peace Formula in line with international law.” They further welcomed successful meetings in Copenhagen and Jeddah in this regard.
The NSA meeting on Ukraine was being organised in the coastal city of Jeddah to discuss Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s plan for peace amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.
The G7 members also agreed on the importance of the participants continuing to engage in this process and welcomed additional participants. The statement said, “In this regard, the G7 members strongly condemned Russia’s unjustified and intensified attacks on Ukrainian ports and grain infrastructure in the Black Sea and the Danube. They urged Russia to stop threatening global food security and return to the international framework associated with the UN to resume grain export from Ukraine. They recalled the Hiroshima Action Statement for Resilient Global Food Security, issued by the leaders of the G7 and invited countries.”
The members reiterated their support for Ukraine’s “undeniable right” to export its grain and foodstuffs through other initiatives, including “the EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes”, and its humanitarian maritime corridor. The statement further added, “The G7 members are working with nations around the world to enhance global food and energy security, particularly by building resilience to withstand future shocks.”
Calling Russia’s threat to deploy nuclear weapons in Belarus “unacceptable”, the G7 member warned that “any use of chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons by Russia would be met with severe consequences”.
The members expressed grave concern about Russia’s seizure and continued militarisation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. They urged all countries to support the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) efforts to help strengthen nuclear safety and security in Ukraine. In this regard, they expressed support for the five principles announced by IAEA Director General Grossi in May at the UNSC.
According to the statement by the US State Department, the G7 members “reiterated their commitment to holding those responsible to account consistent with international law, including by supporting the efforts of international mechanisms, including the International Criminal Court. They supported exploring the creation of an internationalized tribunal based in Ukraine’s judicial system to prosecute the crime of aggression against Ukraine”.
Further, the members also committed to maintaining robust sanctions and other restrictions against Russia. “They reiterated their call on third parties to cease any and all assistance to Russia’s war of aggression or face severe costs. They reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen their coordination to prevent third parties from supplying lethal support including weapons to Russia, and to respond to those that do so,” the statement added. The G7 members also underlined their commitment to remain consistent with their respective legal systems that Russia’s sovereign assets in their jurisdictions remain immobilized until Russia pays for the “damage” it has caused Ukraine. (ANI)
Germany announces aid package worth 400 million Euros for Ukraine
Berlin [Germany], September 20 (ANI): Amid escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius announced that Germany will allocate another package of assistance to Ukraine, worth 400 million euros, reported TASS citing German-based tabloid Bild Newspaper.
Among other things, the package will include munitions.
Asked about another package of assistance being sent to Kyiv, Pistorius said, “Yes. We will supply additional munitions: high-explosive and mortar rounds, anti-mine rockets,” TASS reported. German minister further said, “Munitions are what Ukraine needs most of all.”
He added that Germany will also Ukraine with defence vehicles and demining systems, according to TASS. “Apart from that, we will help with defence vehicles and demining systems. We have also taken care about the coming winter: we will send clothes, power and heat generators. The package will be worth 400 million euros,” he said.
Hinting at possible supplies of Taurus long-range cruise missiles, the minister said that the German government must “thoroughly weigh each batch of weapons supplies.” However, Pistorius said it is not decided yet whether the federal government will supply Taurus cruise missiles or not. “It is necessary to clarify a lot of political, legal, military, and technical aspects. This is quite difficult. It has not yet been decided whether the federal government will supply Taurus cruise missiles or not,” he said.
Moreover, he said that another aspect of Taurus supplies that needs to be looked at is whether such missiles could be used without Bundeswehr soldiers, either on the ground or remotely from Germany, according to TASS.
Earlier, in a video address to the Crimean Platform forum on August 23, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock saidGermany has provided assistance of over 22 billion euros, from tens and generators to tanks and air defence systems. She said that Berlin will keep its assistance to Ukraine “as long as it takes.” Notably, Germany is second behind the United States in supplying weapons to Ukraine.
According to TASS, now, Kyiv has asked for Taurus longer-range missiles but Berlin is in no hurry to make a decision on that matter. However, Russia has raised its concerns about continuing weapons supplies to Ukraine more than once.
Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Maria Zakharova said Moscow will continue attracting the world community’s attention, including within the UN Security Council, to the issue of Western weapons supplies to Ukraine.
Earlier this week, extending immense support for Ukraine, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Saturday addressed a briefing with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and said that the objective is for Ukraine to succeed in regaining its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
After Blinken and Baerbock recently returned from Ukraine, the former said,” We were able to compare notes on our visits but also make clear that we are both deeply committed to continuing the strong support that we and dozens of other countries around the world have been providing to Ukraine – military, economic, humanitarian.”
Bringing the Black Sea Grain Initiative into the discussion, Blinken said that both Germany and the US strongly urge a return to the initiative.
“Of course, both of us continue to strongly urge a return to the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which, when it was in force, enabled Ukraine to export well over 30 million tons of grain, enough for 18 billion loaves of bread,” he added. (ANI)
