LONDON, February 24. /TASS/. The Group of Seven leaders have agreed to toughen the anti-Russian sanctions over its special military operation in Ukraine, according to a joitn statement adopted after their online talks on Friday.
"We reaffirm our commitment to strengthening the unprecedented and coordinated sanctions and other economic measures the G7 and partner countries have taken to date to further counter Russia’s capacity to wage its illegal aggression," the statemen reads. "We remain committed to presenting a united front through the imposition of new coordinated economic actions against Russia in the days and weeks ahead."
Apart from that, the leaders promised to implement the existing sanctions and take measures to prevent "Russia from finding new ways to acquire advanced materials, technology, and military and industrial equipment from our jurisdictions that it can use to develop its industrial sectors and further its violations of international law."
Russia’s decision to suspend participation in New START
The Group of Seven also regrets Russia’s decision to suspend participation in New START.
"We deeply regret Russia’s decision to suspend the implementation of the new START treaty," the document reads.
The Group of Seven warned Russia against the use of chemical, biological or nuclear weapons. "We reiterate that Russia’s irresponsible nuclear rhetoric is unacceptable, and any use of chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear weapons by Russia would be met with severe consequences," the statement says. "We recall the consensus achieved in Bali of all G20 members, including Russia, that the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is inadmissible. We also recall the importance of the 77-year record of non-use of nuclear weapons.
Japan is holding G7 presidency in 2023 and will organize a summit in Hiroshima in May. This city came under nuclear bombardment by the United States on August 6, 1945 to become, along Nagasaki, where the United States dropped a nuclear bomb on August 9, 1945, the world’s only places of the combat use of nuclear weapons.
G7 also warned Russia against using chemical, biological or nuclear weapons.
"We reiterate that Russia’s irresponsible nuclear rhetoric is unacceptable, and any use of chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear weapons by Russia would be met with severe consequences," the G7 leaders said in a joint statement after their online talks on Friday.