G7 reassure Kyiv and call on Moscow to ‘completely’ and ‘unconditionally withdraw its military forces’
The Group of Seven (G7) nations will seek to reassure Ukraine this week that their support will not waver, Bloomberg reported on Feb. 22, citing a draft statement ahead of an online summit to mark the anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion.
The G7 will call on Russia to “completely” and “unconditionally withdraw its military forces” from Ukraine and pledge never to recognize elections that Russia holds now or in the future in the occupied territories.
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The group leaders are scheduled to hold a call with the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Feb. 24, marking two years since Russia’s full-scale aggression. The war will again be top of the G7 agenda this year, with Italy holding the group’s presidency ahead of a leaders’ summit in June.
Kyiv’s allies will pledge to step up their military assistance as well as capacity to produce and deliver weapons just as Ukraine faces a shortage of artillery and the prospect of a prolonged stalemate on the front.
In the meantime, the G-7 will welcome the European Union’s recently approved €50 billion ($54.2 billion) aid package and a commitment by Japan to provide Ukraine an additional $4.5 billion this year.
The draft is subject to discussions and could change before it is released.
Read also: Kyiv becomes diplomatic hotspot as world leaders flock for invasion anniversary
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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
