Arab News Japan

TOKYO: The G7 Foreign Ministers have condemned Russia’s “continued actions to undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence.” 

Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America and the High Representative of the European Union, reaffirmed in a statement Thursday their “unwavering support for and commitment to the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.”

They pointed out that Thursday marked seven years since Russia’s “illegitimate and illegal” annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol.

The G7 ministers unequivocally denounced Russia’s “temporary occupation” of Crimea and said that Russia’s attempts to legitimize it will not, be recognized: “We condemn Russia’s violations of human rights on the peninsula, particularly of Crimean Tatars. We call on Russia to respect its international obligations, allow access to international monitors, and to immediately release all those who are unjustly detained.

“We deplore recent military escalations by Russian-backed armed formations at the line of contact. We call on the Russian Federation to stop fueling the conflict by providing financial and military support to the armed formations it backs in eastern Ukraine.”

The ministers added that the G7 remains fully committed to the implementation of sanctions and will continue to stand with Ukraine in support of its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.