The G7 countries are readjusting their relationship with Russia. Moscow’s attack on Ukraine will have long-lasting consequences. Relationships like before the attack can no longer exist. Chancellor Scholz had previously announced such a step for NATO.
At the G7 summit, Chancellor Olaf Scholz warned Russia that his attack on Ukraine would have long-term consequences. “In relation to Russia, there can be no going back to the time before the Russian invasion of Ukraine,” he said after the second day of the summit. Russia has “broken” all agreements on cooperation between states and violated the principle that borders should not be moved by force. The G7 countries are therefore in agreement that “this is about very long-lasting changes,” said Scholz. They would continue to shape international relations “for a very long time”.
In his government statement last week, the SPD politician had already made similar statements. “A partnership with Russia, like the one the Strategic Concept of 2010 announced as a goal, is unimaginable for the foreseeable future with Putin’s aggressive, imperialist Russia,” he said. However, he made the statement with a view to the upcoming NATO summit and the expected strategic realignment of the military alliance.
The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the current situation in his country “very urgently” to the summit participants during joint consultations in the morning, the Chancellor said. Selenskyj was “very grateful” for the support of the G7 countries.
The group of states is aware that this help “will be necessary for a long time to come” and is ready to continue to support Ukraine in its defense against Russia, said Scholz.
In a joint statement, the G7 countries had previously pledged to support Ukraine in the conflict “as long as it is necessary”. They announced that they would “maintain and intensify economic and political pressure on President Putin’s regime.” The access of Russia’s military industry to Western technology should therefore be “further restricted”. The G7 also announced targeted sanctions against those responsible for war crimes.
