The G7 will “never accept” Russia’s attempt to annex Ukraine’s regions – a statement

The countries of the “Group of Seven” will continue to support Ukraine and its territorial integrity – this is stated in the joint statement of the foreign ministers of the G7 member countries, as well as the high representative of the European Union for foreign affairs.

This is how the diplomats commented on the second anniversary of Russia’s illegal annexation of parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions of Ukraine.

“We will never recognize this and other violations of international law committed by Russia against Ukraine and its people, and will continue to condemn in the strongest possible terms Russia’s illegal aggression, its human rights violations and abuses in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, as well as continued brutal attacks with the destruction of civilian, critical and urban infrastructure,” the text says.

Read also: “The Russian Federation can fight endlessly.” Will the occupied territories become a bargaining chip for peace in Ukraine?

The G7 countries called on the international community to also condemn Russia’s actions. They also declared “unwavering” support for Ukraine and commitment to increase the cost of aggression for Russia:

“Together, these measures will help create the right conditions for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on the principles of the UN Charter. We will continue to engage the wider international community in this cause, seeking to restore full respect for the rules-based international order.”

The authors of the statement indicated that the war “could end now” if Russia withdraws its troops from the entire territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.

In September 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed decrees on the “joining” of the partially occupied Zaporizhia, Kherson, Donetsk, and occupied Luhansk regions of Ukraine to the Russian Federation.

Ukraine, the countries of the West and many other countries of the world have declared that they do not recognize this attempt at annexation and, as before, will consider the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, as well as Donetsk and Luhansk, to be the sovereign territory of Ukraine.