Ottawa: The foreign ministers of the world's seven largest economies (G7) have called on Russia to accept a ceasefire proposal put forward by the United States to end the war in Ukraine. They warned that failure to comply could lead to additional sanctions against Moscow.
Following their meeting in Canada, the ministers issued a joint statement urging Russia to agree to a ceasefire "on equal terms" and fully implement it.
The statement read, “We have discussed the possibility of imposing additional sanctions if Russia does not agree to a ceasefire. These measures may include setting limits on oil prices, increasing support for Ukraine, and other strategic actions.”
The meeting was attended by the foreign ministers of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United States.
Despite recent events that suggested a potential shift in U.S. support for Ukraine, the G7 ministers reaffirmed their commitment to Kyiv. They emphasized their unwavering backing for Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, and right to self-defense.
Meanwhile, Russian officials have signaled that more negotiations are needed for a ceasefire agreement. They have indicated that Moscow is not yet prepared to finalize a deal with Ukraine.
Reports suggest that Russian President Vladimir Putin has provided updates to U.S. Special Representative Steve Whitkov during a recent meeting, with the intention of relaying information to President Donald Trump. However, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Friday that American officials would convene to assess Russia’s stance and discuss future steps.
Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly reiterated that all G7 nations support a ceasefire in Ukraine and are awaiting Moscow’s response. “The decision now lies with Russia on how it wants to proceed regarding Ukraine,” she said.
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy also emphasized that “the time for an unconditional ceasefire has come.” He added that Ukraine has made its position clear, and Russia must now agree to end hostilities.
