TOKYO: The leaders of the Group of Seven major democracies agreed in a videoconference Wednesday to strongly promote sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine and support for Ukraine.

The G7 leaders urged third countries to stop providing support to Moscow’s war efforts. Japanese Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio announced a plan to take action this year against third-country organizations suspected of helping Russia circumvent sanctions.

“We repeat our call for third parties to immediately cease providing material support to Russia’s aggression, or face severe cost,” the G7 leaders said in a joint statement released after the conference.

Kishida said that the G7 remains committed to leading an international response to the war in Ukraine despite tensions in the Middle East. Japan will provide Ukraine with 1 billion dollars in additional humanitarian and reconstruction aid, he said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking at the beginning of the G7 conference, called on the West to remain united in responding to the war.

On the conflict between Israel and Hamas, the G7 leaders agreed that they will lead efforts to restore calm and provide humanitarian assistance. Kishida urged all parties concerned to comply with international humanitarian law.

The G7 leaders expressed concerns about China’s military activities in the East China Sea and South China Sea. “We strongly oppose any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion.”

The leaders endorsed guiding principles for artificial intelligence developers and users that were agreed at a G7 ministerial meeting last week.

JIJI Press