G7 studies new sanctions against Russia and reaffirms support for Zelensky

The leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) discussed the imposition of new sanctions against Russia during the summit held in France, while reaffirming their support for Ukraine and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, amidst the war that has continued since 2022.

After participating in the bloc’s meetings, Zelensky stated that there is a consensus among G7 countries that Russia is not making decisive progress in the conflict and that it is necessary to increase international pressure to force the Kremlin to negotiate a diplomatic solution.

As the Ukrainian leader explained, the talks focused on potential additional sanctions targeting key sectors of the Russian economy, including oil exports, the banking system, and the military industry, which are considered fundamental to financing Moscow’s war operations.

Zelenskyy also maintained that Western leaders showed concern over recent Russian attacks against civilian infrastructure in Ukrainian territory and agreed on the need to maintain military, economic, and political support for Kyiv.

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As the summit was taking place, several allied countries continued to announce pressure measures against Russia. The United Kingdom reported new sanctions against financial entities, companies linked to the energy sector, and vessels of the so-called “shadow fleet,” used to evade international restrictions on the export of Russian oil.

For its part, the European Union is discussing a new package of sanctions that includes measures aimed at the energy, financial, and commercial sectors, as well as actions to hinder the mechanisms used by Moscow to circumvent existing restrictions.

During the summit, Zelensky reiterated the need to increase political and economic pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin, and asked his allies to accelerate the supply of air defense systems and other military capabilities to strengthen Ukraine’s protection against Russian attacks.

The G7 meeting comes at a key moment for the conflict, as Western powers seek to maintain unity against Russia and strengthen international support for Ukraine amidst diplomatic efforts to reach an eventual peace negotiation.