G7 urges China to pressure Russia “to stop” war in Ukraine

“OThe G7 members called on China to pressure Russia to stop its military aggression and to immediately and unconditionally withdraw its troops from Ukraine”, the ministers highlighted in a statement.

The heads of diplomacy from the seven most industrialized countries in the world – the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom – met in New York on the sidelines of the high-level week of the United Nations General Assembly.

In the same statement, the G7 welcomed China’s participation in the meeting held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to end the war in Ukraine and urged it to support “a just and lasting peace” for the European country.

These countries also agreed on the need to establish “constructive relations” with China to directly address their common concerns and challenges with the Asian giant, such as the climate crisis, economic stability or debt financing.

But they also expressed that Beijing’s claims in the South China Sea have “no legal basis” and opposed any attempt to “change the ‘status quo’ through force” in Taiwan.

The G7 defended the “one China” policy, which rejects Taiwan’s independence, but at the same time said it supported the island’s right to participate in international forums.

In this joint statement, the foreign ministers also condemned Russia’s “attacks against the civilian population” in Ukraine, as well as Moscow’s decision to withdraw from the Black Sea grain export agreement, which worsened the global food crisis.

Foreign ministers assured that they remain “committed to maintaining and, where appropriate, expanding robust sanctions and other restrictions against Russia.”

Those responsible “reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening their coordination to prevent third parties from providing lethal support, including weapons, to Russia, and to responding to those who do so.”

For these countries, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “nuclear rhetoric” is unacceptable, also expressing their support for the creation of an international court to judge Russian war crimes in Ukraine.

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