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G7 member states to up pressure on Russia imposing new restrictive measures

According to the statement, they "will work together to stop any attempts to circumvent sanctions or to aid Russia by other means"

BRUSSELS, April 7. /TASS/. Group of Seven (G7) member states will continue exerting pressure on Russia by imposing extra restrictive measures, according to a statement by G7 top diplomats published on Thursday following a meeting on the sidelines of a NATO ministerial summit in Brussels.

"Together with international partners, the G7 will sustain and increase pressure on Russia by imposing coordinated additional restrictive measures. <...> We will work together to stop any attempts to circumvent sanctions or to aid Russia by other means," the statement reads.

"We are taking further steps to expedite plans to reduce our reliance on Russian energy, and will work together to this end," the G7 statement added.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell stated earlier that a possible embargo on supplies of Russian oil was not on the agenda of the mooted fifth package of EU sanctions, but EU foreign ministers would consider this issue on April 11.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on February 24 that in response to a request by the heads of the Donbass republics he had made a decision to carry out a special military operation in Ukraine, stressing that Moscow had no plans of occupying Ukrainian territories.

Western countries responded to the actions of the Russian authorities by slapping numerous sanctions against physical and legal entities.