WANGELS: The Group of Seven industrialised nations said Saturday they would never recognise the borders Russia is trying to shift in its war against Ukraine and pledged enduring support for Kyiv, reports AFP.
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 but Kyiv's forces managed to push Moscow's troops back from the capital. The conflict is now well into its third month. "We will never recognise borders Russia has attempted to change by military aggression, and will uphold our engagement in the support of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, including Crimea, and all states," the G7 foreign ministers said in a statement after three days of talks in northern Germany.
"We reaffirm our determination to further increase economic and political pressure on Russia, continuing to act in unity," they said.
Western countries have supplied Ukraine with artillery, anti-aircraft missiles, anti-tank weapons and other powerful material, but Kyiv has been pushing allies for more support.
As the war drags on, the G7 foreign ministers also highlighted the growing impact of the war on poorer countries, especially in the area of food security.
The ministers also slammed Belarus over its stance on the war.
"We... call on Belarus to stop enabling Russia's aggression and to abide by its international obligations," they said.
Foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) met on the second day of a three-day meeting in the Germany resort of Wangels, joined by their counterparts from Ukraine and Moldova.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said the G7 were "very strongly united" in their will to "continue in the long term to support Ukraine's fight for its sovereignty until Ukraine's victory."
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the bloc was pledging an extra 500 million euros ($520 million) in military aid.