Four months after the start of the Russian offensive, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday urged the G7 heads of state and government "to do their utmost" to end the war that is ravaging his country before the end of the year.
The leader, who spoke by videoconference at Elmau Castle in southern Germany where the leaders of the seven industrialized countries are meeting, "had a very strong message by saying that we had to do our utmost to try to put an end to this war before the end of the year", underlined sources within the G7.
Volodymyr Zelensky also called for "intensifying sanctions" against Moscow as the West has already adopted several sets of measures since the start of the Russian offensive on Ukraine on February 24.
“He also insisted on the need “not to lower the pressure and to continue to sanction Russia massively, heavily”.
Sanctions targeting the price of Russian oil
During his speech, the Ukrainian president “referred to the harsh winter” in Ukraine “where it is more difficult to fight”.
“At the end of the year, we will enter a situation where the positions will be frozen”, said these sources.
Meeting until Tuesday in the Bavarian Alps, the American, Canadian, German, French, Italian, British and Japanese leaders have already agreed on the first day of their summit on Sunday to further toughen these sanctions, particularly targeting the defense industry. , according to a senior White House official.
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They also intend to develop a "mechanism to cap the price of Russian oil at the global level".
The G7 will also “coordinate to use customs duties on Russian products to help Ukraine,” the same source continued.
“We will continue to increase the pressure on Putin”
The G7 will "continue to increase the pressure" on Vladimir Putin, for his part assured German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in a tweet to Volodymyr Zelensky.
As @G7 we stand united on Ukraine's side and will continue our support.
For this, we all have to take tough but necessary decisions.
Thank you, @ZelenskyyUa, for your participation today.
We will continue to increase pressure on Putin.
This war has to come to an end.
#G7GER pic.twitter.com/avuvN5auPB
— Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz (@Bundeskanzler) June 27, 2022
“As the G7, we are united with Ukraine and we will continue to support it.
For this, we all have to make difficult but necessary decisions.
(…) We will continue to increase the pressure on Putin.
This war must end,” wrote the Chancellor, host of the summit taking place in southern Germany until Tuesday.
