G7 calls on Russia to choose the 'path of diplomacy'
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G7 foreign ministers voice concern over the situation in Ukraine and call on Russia to "choose the path of diplomacy."
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G7, Ukraine, and EU foreign ministers in a group photo at the Munich Security Conference
G7 foreign ministers meeting at the Munich Security Conference said that they saw no evidence of a decline in Russian military activity on the western borders with Ukraine.
The foreign ministers, who also met with Ukraine and EU's foreign ministers, expressed they are "gravely concerned" about the situation.
In a joint statement released by the British Foreign Ministry, they called on Russia "to choose the path of diplomacy, to de-escalate tensions, to substantively withdraw military forces from the proximity of Ukraine's borders and to fully abide by international commitments."
The statement also said that they expect Russia to decrease military activities on its borders with Ukraine, as they've seen no evidence of the previously announced reduction.
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen accused Russia on Saturday of “trying to undermine the European security architecture," and of attempting to “rewrite the rules of the international order.”
Von der Leyen also said during the Munich Security Conference that this cannot be allowed to happen. She also condemned the Russian-Chinese alliance, saying “They prefer the rule of the strongest to the rule of law, intimidation instead of self-determination, coercion instead of cooperation."
Earlier, the President of the EU Commission also stressed that the Russian forces spread on the borders with Ukraine are "the largest build-up of troops on European soil since the darkest days of the Cold War," and added that "the events of these days could reshape the entire international order.”
We are facing a blatant attempt by Russia to rewrite the rules of our international system.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) February 19, 2022
But we still hope that peace will prevail and that diplomacy will take us there.
This is how Europe supports this effort. #MSC2022 https://t.co/jikx9o20zw
Referencing the sanctions that may be imposed on Moscow if it launches an attack on Ukraine, she declared that this may cost Russia a prosperous future.
Stoltenberg: Russia trying to re-establish its sphere of influence
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, who was next to von der Leyen, said that for the first time, "we now see Beijing joining Moscow in calling on NATO to stop admitting new members" in what he called an attempt "to control the fate of free nations."
Stoltenberg also warned Russia that if it aims to have "less NATO" on its borders, "it will only get more NATO," adding that Moscow is "attempting to roll back history and recreate its spheres of influence," but all NATO allies will stand as one will do what is necessary to protect and defend each other.
