'Russia Started This War And Can End This War': G7 Leaders Condemn Moscow's 'Aggression' In Ukraine

G7 leaders urged Russia to stop the aggression immediately, completely, and unconditionally and asked Moscow to remove its troops from Ukraine saying, “Russia started this war and can end this war.”

Group of Seven members pose for a photo before their working lunch meeting on economic security as part of the G7 Leaders' Summit, in Hiroshima on May 20, 2023.

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The Group of Seven (G7) leaders have reiterated their support to Ukraine as the Russian invasion of the country continues after over a year. The leaders in a statement have called Russia's action an "illegal, unjustifiable, and unprovoked war of aggression". The G7 Summit is underway in Japan's Hiroshima on Saturday where the leaders of the member nations issued the joint statement. They stated that 15 months of Russia’s aggression has cost thousands of lives. The G7 members said that it is taking “new steps to ensure that Russia's illegal aggression against Ukraine fails and support the Ukrainian people in their quest for a just peace rooted in respect for international law”.

The joint statement said that the leaders of the Group of Seven countries are taking concrete steps to support Ukraine for "as long as it takes" in the face of Russia's illegal war of aggression. The G7 members condemned Russia’s manifest violation of the Charter of the United Nations (UN) and the impact of Russia’s war on the rest of the world.

"At our meeting today in Hiroshima, we, the Leaders of the G7, reaffirmed our commitment to stand together against Russia's illegal, unjustifiable, and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine. We condemn, in the strongest terms, Russia’s manifest violation of the Charter of… pic.twitter.com/I44mHfSiMx

— ANI (@ANI) May 20, 2023

G7 leaders urged Russia to stop the aggression immediately, completely, and unconditionally. Further, it asked Russia to remove its troops from Ukraine. “Russia started this war and can end this war.”

They resolved to strengthen disarmament and non-proliferation efforts, towards the ultimate goal of a world without nuclear weapons with undiminished security for all. The G7 members in the joint statement also reaffirmed their strong commitment to ensure that Ukraine has the economic support it needs.

At Hiroshima, the “symbol of peace”, the G7 members have pledged to mobilise all their policy instruments and make every effort to bring a "comprehensive, just, and lasting peace" in Ukraine as soon as possible.

...We hereby pledge, from Hiroshima, the "symbol of peace", that G7 members will mobilize all our policy instruments and, together with Ukraine, make every effort to bring a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine as soon as possible: G7 Leaders’ Statement on Ukraine pic.twitter.com/ow0nkBNu4N

— ANI (@ANI) May 20, 2023

G7 Leaders On 'Militarisation' Of Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station, 'Weaponisation' Of Food

The G7 leaders express their gravest concern over Russia’s seizure and 'militarisation' of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station. “We support the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) efforts to strengthen nuclear safety and security of, and the application of safeguards to, nuclear material and facilities in Ukraine, including through the continuous presence of IAEA experts and its focus on ensuring nuclear safety and security at the site”, the statement read. 

“Under the leadership of Japan’s G7 Presidency, together with the international community, we have ensured Ukraine has the budget support it needs for 2023 and early 2024,” the G7 leaders added.

Parallel to their support to Ukraine, the G7 leaders have also reaffirmed their commitment to address the growing needs of vulnerable countries which have been aggravated by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

The G-7 members stressed that Russia’s "weaponisation" of food has compounded economic vulnerabilities, exacerbated already dire humanitarian crises, and escalated global food insecurity and malnutrition to unprecedented levels. 

“We will work with our international partners to achieve a world that is human-centred, inclusive and resilient, leaving no one behind,” the G7 statement said.