Leaders of the world’s seven richest nations have promised to support Ukraine “for as long as it takes” on the second day of a summit in Germany.
In a statement, the G7 group also said that Russia must stop blocking food from leaving Ukraine’s ports.
Addressing the summit via video link, Ukraine’s president appealed for more heavy weapons from Western allies.
G7 leaders are under pressure to be united in their approach against increasing Russian aggression.
“We will continue to provide financial, humanitarian, military, and diplomatic support and stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes,” they said on Monday.
The G7 leaders – Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the US – have been joined in Bavaria, Germany by two representatives from the European Union.
The high-level talks were held as Russian forces escalated their attacks on Ukraine, where officials said a busy shopping center was struck by a missile killing ten people.
Dialing into the luxury hotel spa where the summit is being held, asked for more heavy weapons for Ukraine and said he hoped the war would be over by the end of the year “before winter sets in”. There are concerns that harsh winter conditions will make battle conditions tougher for Ukraine’s troops.
President Volodymyr Zelensky also urged Western allies to keep the pressure on Russia with more sanctions.
In their joint statement, the G7 leaders said they remain committed to “sustaining and intensifying” sanctions against President Vladimir Putin’s government and enablers in neighboring Belarus. There will be sanctions on gold and oil exports and also “targeted sanctions on those responsible for war crimes”, the joint statement said.
BY BBC