G7 leaders pledge more Russia sanctions on 2nd Ukraine war anniversary
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The leaders of the G7 group urge the approval of additional support to close Ukraine's remaining budget gap for 2024.
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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen attending the first meeting of G7 Heads of State and Government under the Italian Presidency, in Kiev, Ukraine, on Feb. 24, 2024. (G7 Italia)
The G7 countries pledged Saturday support for Ukraine and new sanctions on Russia after a virtual meeting on the second anniversary of the start of the war.
In a statement after the meeting, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also attended, the leaders vowed to "raise the cost" of what they called "Russia's war" on Ukraine.
Washington and its allies have imposed a host of sanctions against Moscow since the start of the war in Ukraine, including blocking financial assets, restricting high-tech exports and setting an official cap on the sale price of Russia's oil exports.
Despite US-led pressure, the Russian economy grew by more than three percent last year and is expected to grow again this year.
A coalition involving the G7, the European Union, and Australia earlier announced plans to tighten compliance with the $60 per barrel cap on sales of Russian crude, which has been widely circumvented.
The leaders of the G7 group -- which includes the United States, Japan, Germany, France, Britain, Italy, and Canada -- didn't make Saturday any public statement about further military aid to Ukraine, but urged "the approval of additional support to close Ukraine's remaining budget gap for 2024."
The group also called on Iran to stop aiding Russia's military and expressed concern about the alleged transfer by Chinese businesses of weapon components, military equipment, and dual-use materials to Moscow.
Finally, the G7 leaders demanded that Russia "fully clarify the circumstances" around the death of opposition figure Alexei Navalny last week.
Zelensky used the meeting to plead for more support for his embattled military forces.
"You know very well all we need to keep our sky protected, to strengthen our military on the land, and you know all we need to sustain and continue our success in the sea," he said.
"And you know perfectly well that we need all this in time, and we count on you."
The meeting was hosted from Kiev by Giorgia Meloni, the prime minister of Italy, which holds the rotating G7 presidency.
Read more: France, UK, Australia vow unwavering support for Ukraine
