Foreign ministers of the Group of Seven industrialized nations on Friday pledged to continue to "impose economic costs" on Russia, more than eight months into its invasion of Ukraine, while committing to continuous support for the Eastern European nation.
In a joint statement issued before wrapping up a two-day meeting in the western German city of Munster, the G-7 top diplomats also called for a peaceful resolution to the Taiwan issue amid tensions over the self-ruled democratic island that China regards as a breakaway province to be reunified with the mainland, by force if necessary.
The ministers from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, plus the European Union, have led efforts to impose sanctions on Russia over the war in Ukraine since late February, such as asset freezes against Russian President Vladimir Putin and the country's central bank.
In view of Russia indicating its willingness to use nuclear weapons against the neighboring country, the statement said Moscow's "irresponsible nuclear rhetoric is unacceptable" and that any use of chemical, biological or nuclear weapons would be met with "severe consequences."
The G-7 ministers also expressed their "unwavering commitment" to continue supporting Ukraine. They vowed to set up a coordination mechanism to help restore and defend Ukraine's critical infrastructure, following Russian attacks against civilian targets that left many Ukrainians without electricity and water supplies.
Alleging that Iran has provided Russia with military drones and trainers deployed in the attack on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, the statement indirectly criticized Tehran's involvement in the war. According to the Japanese government, the G-7 ministers agreed to seek Iran's halting of "any support" for the Russian invasion.
The foreign ministers affirmed their commitment to providing relief goods for Ukraine "to meet its winter preparedness needs."
The top G-7 diplomats expressed their strong opposition to "any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion," and their serious concerns about the situation in and around the East and South China seas, in an apparent reference to China's maritime assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region.
Underscoring "the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait," they called for a peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues.
Cross-strait tensions have been heightened, especially since a visit to Taiwan in August by U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the third-highest-ranking U.S. official, despite China's warning against any official contact between Taipei and Washington.
As for North Korea, the G-7 ministers said they "strongly condemn the unprecedented series of unlawful ballistic missile launches" by Pyongyang this year, citing a missile that was "recklessly launched" on Oct. 4 and flew over the Japanese archipelago for the first time in five years.
Amid speculation that the North is set to carry out its seventh nuclear test, the first since September 2017, the top diplomats warned that "any nuclear test or reckless action must be met with a swift, united, and robust international response."
The G-7 countries condemned Russia's war as a "driver of the most severe global food and energy crisis in recent history" and its attempts to leverage those exports as a "tool of geopolitical coercion."
Concerns about food supplies have grown, especially in some nations in Africa and the Middle East that are highly dependent on grain imports from Ukraine, a major producer, with Russia accused of destroying the country's agricultural infrastructure.
Russia, another major grain exporter and one of the largest crude oil producers, has blamed the food shortages along with rising prices for food and energy resources on economic sanctions led by the G-7 being imposed on Moscow.
Last week, Moscow announced the suspension of a July agreement with Kyiv to allow Ukrainian grain exports from Black Sea ports, fueling fears of an exacerbated food shortage. However, on Wednesday, Russia decided to go through with the deal.
The G-7 also emphasized that their close cooperation with African nations is vital since the continent is particularly vulnerable to food insecurity, climate change and the coronavirus pandemic.
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G-7 foreign ministers call for peaceful resolution of Taiwan issue
