Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev yesterday accused the G7 of “cynicism” for backing Ukraine’s military operation against armed pro-Russian insurgents.
“The so-called G7 even talks about the measured actions of the Ukrainian army against its own people,” Medvedev was quoted as saying by Interfax news agency. “This is cynicism without limit.”
In a joint communique released at a G7 summit in Brussels on Wednesday, world leaders encouraged Ukraine to “maintain a measured approach in pursuing operations to restore law and order.”
Leaders at the G7 summit, from which Russian President Vladimir Putin was excluded after his nation’s annexation of Crimea, condemned Russia for “continuing violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.”
They called for Russia to “stop the flow of weapons and militants across the border, and to exercise its influence among armed separatists to lay down their weapons and renounce violence.”
However, the G7 leaders said that while they still hoped for “constructive” talks with Putin on the sidelines of D-Day commemorations in France today, Moscow could face further punitive measures.
In a joint communique they said Putin must recognize the results of Ukraine’s May 25 presidential election, won by Petro Poroshenko, stem destabilization in the east of the country and pull Russian troops back from the border.
“Actions to destabilize eastern Ukraine are unacceptable and must stop,” the group said. “We stand ready to intensify targeted sanctions and to implement significant additional restrictive measures to impose further costs on Russia should events so require.”
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that European leaders would “take stock” of Russian actions at a summit at the end of the month and “reflect which further sanctions are necessary.”
However, Merkel, who is due to meet Putin in France, said that “the main thing is to be constructive” and that further sanctions would take effect only if there had been “no progress whatsoever.”
French President Francois Hollande — who was scheduled to have separate dinners with both Putin and US President Barack Obama in Paris yesterday — agreed that “dialogue and de-escalation must be encouraged.”
British Prime Minister David Cameron said he would be taking a similar message to Putin when he was due to meet him yesterday.
Putin hinted that he could meet both Poroshenko and even Obama, saying: “I don’t plan to avoid anyone.”
However, he taunted the US and waved away allegations of Russian military meddling in eastern Ukraine.
“Proof? Let’s see it,” Putin said. “The entire world remembers the US secretary of state demonstrating the evidence of Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction, waving around some test tube with washing powder in the UN Security Council.”
However, Putin said that he was ready to meet the Ukrainian president-elect.
In related news, Russian Ambassador to Ukraine Mikhail Zurabov will attend the inauguration of Petro Poroshenko as Ukrainian president, Itar-Tass news agency quoted Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin as saying yesterday.
“It was decided that Russian Ambassador Mikhail Zurabov will take part in the official ceremony of Ukraine’s presidential inauguration, which is due to be held on June 7,” Karasin was quoted as saying.
Additional reporting by Reuters
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