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G7 calls on Russia to accept ceasefire in Ukraine: If agreement is not reached, Moscow will face further sanctions!

2025-03-14 22:46:37 / BOTA ALFA PRESS

G7 calls on Russia to accept ceasefire in Ukraine: If agreement is not reached,

The top diplomats of seven major Western democracies urged Russia on Friday to accept a ceasefire proposed by the United States in the Russia-Ukraine war.

"We called on Russia to respond and agree to a ceasefire on equal terms and by fully implementing it ," the diplomats said in a joint statement at the end of the meeting in Canada.

"We discussed imposing further costs on Russia if such a ceasefire is not achieved, including further sanctions, restrictions on oil prices, as well as additional support for Ukraine and other measures."

The White House said US President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday.

"All G7 foreign ministers agree with the US proposal for a ceasefire to be supported by the Ukrainians" and the focus is now on Russia's response, Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly said on Friday.

She added that "the ball is now in Russia's court when it comes to Ukraine." British Foreign Secretary David Lammy echoed this idea, stating, "There is a common denominator that now is the time for an unconditional ceasefire.

"Ukraine has made its position clear. Now it's up to Russia to accept it."

Mr. Lammy also noted that a "coalition" is being formed to provide Ukraine with the necessary "security architecture" and monitoring mechanisms to support the ceasefire.

The G7 joint statement comes after the Kremlin said much remains to be done on a ceasefire agreement with Ukraine, signaling reluctance to fully endorse the US proposal.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin was still waiting for answers after raising several questions about the implementation of the ceasefire.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected Putin's response, saying he had "deliberately" imposed conditions that complicate and "drag out the process."

"A temporary unconditional 30-day ceasefire is the first decisive step that can bring us significantly closer to a just and lasting peace," Mr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday in a post on the social media platform X.

The G7 talks in Charlevoix, Quebec, brought together ministers from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States.

In addition to the Ukraine issue, the G7 foreign ministers also discussed behind closed doors China's role in global security, stability for the Indian and Pacific Ocean regions, and maritime security.

On Friday, G7 foreign ministers held a session focused on the strategic challenges posed by China, North Korea, Iran and Russia.

Many foreign policy analysts and military officials refer to these four countries as the "Axis of Unrest," referring to their growing anti-Western cooperation.

The G7 joint statement said the group remains "concerned with China's military buildup and the continued and rapid growth of China's nuclear weapons arsenal."

They called on China to engage in strategic discussions on risk reduction and promote stability through transparency.

The foreign ministers also reaffirmed their serious concerns about the situations in the East and South China Seas, strongly opposing any unilateral attempts to change the status quo, especially through force or coercion.

G7 members also stressed the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, reiterating their opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion.

A possible ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war could affect the US presence in the Indo-Pacific, as officials and analysts suggest that ending the conflict would allow Washington to redirect resources towards addressing challenges in the region.

"I don't think an endless, ongoing conflict in Europe or in Ukraine is good for the Indo-Pacific region. It takes a lot of the world's attention, time and resources away from areas where we continue to see growing threats," Mr. Rubio told VOA earlier this week during a briefing aboard a military aircraft.

"In many ways, we could spend even more time focused on the Indo-Pacific, if we can somehow bring peace to the European continent," the senior US diplomat noted./ VOA

 

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