Leaders from the Group of Seven developed democracies pledged Sunday to phase out or ban the import of Russian oil.
They made the promise as they met with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, to emphasize their support and to display unity amongst Western allies on Victory in Europe Day, which marks Nazi Germany’s give up in 1945.
Cutting out Russian oil supplies “will hit hard on the important artery of (President Vladimir) Putin’s economy and deny him the revenue he must fund his war,” the G7 countries — France, Germany, Italy, Britain, Canada and the USA — said in an announcement.
“We are going to make sure that we achieve this in a timely and orderly fashion, and in ways in which provide time for the world to secure alternative supplies,” they added.
Casting a glance back at World War II, the leaders stressed unity of their resolve that Putin must not win.
“We owe it to the memory of all those that fought for freedom within the Second World War, to proceed fighting for it today, for the people of Ukraine, Europe and the worldwide community,” they said.
US publicizes more sanctions against Russia
The US also announced recent sanctions against Russia on Sunday, for its invasion of Ukraine.
They include cutting off Western promoting from Russia’s three biggest television stations, banning US accounting and consulting firms from providing services to any Russian, and piling additional restrictions on Russia’s industrial sector, including cutting off Moscow from wood products, industrial engines, boilers, bulldozers and more.
The White House announced the brand new sanctions ahead of the May 9 Victory Day, when Russia traditionally celebrates Nazi Germany’s defeat in 1945 with huge military parades.
President Putin is anticipated to discuss what he calls the ‘special military operation’ in Ukraine and address troops in Red Square on Monday.
The US and European allies were looking for to supply counter-messaging that Putin is further isolating Russia from the remainder of the world and doing enormous harm to the Russian economy.
Ahead of the decision, UK officials said Britain will provide an additional 1.3 billion kilos (€1.5 billion) in military support to Ukraine to assist the nation defend itself against Russian forces.
The funding, which comes from British government reserves, includes 300 million kilos of military kit promised by Prime Minister Boris Johnson earlier this week, akin to radar systems to focus on Russian artillery, GPS jamming equipment and night vision devices.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a surprise visit to Ukraine Sunday, touring the northern town of Irpin, which had been heavily damaged by Russia’s try to take the capital of Kyiv firstly of the war. The mayor on Sunday posted images of Trudeau on social media, saying that the Canadian leader was shocked by the damage he saw at civilian homes.
Trudeau’s office later said “the prime minister is in Ukraine to fulfill with President Zelenskyy and reaffirm Canada’s unwavering support for the Ukrainian people.”
Jill Biden also made an unannounced visit on Sunday, holding a surprise Mother’s Day meeting in western Ukraine with first lady Olena Zelenska. Biden traveled under the cloak of secrecy, becoming the most recent high-profile American to enter Ukraine during its 10-week-old war with Russia.
In Germany, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in a televised address that Sunday was “a May eighth like no other.”
He said Germany has worked hard to come clean with its actions during World War II, reconciling with each Russia and Ukraine and committing itself to the concept of “never again.” But Russia’s “barbaric” invasion of Ukraine in February has brought war back to Europe, Scholz said, a prospect that after seemed unthinkable.
“Freedom and security will prevail — just as freedom and security triumphed over lack of freedom, violence and dictatorship 77 years ago,” Scholz said in his address.
German Bundestag President Bärbel Bas, the second highest-ranking German official after the president, met Sunday with Zelenskyy in Kyiv and attended a memorial event honoring the anniversary of the tip of World War II.
“We actually appreciate that on the Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation itself, and in what for us is such a trying time of war, the President of the German Bundestag Bärbel Bas got here to support Ukraine,” said a post published Sunday on Zelenskyy’s Telegram channel.
Croatia’s prime minister was also in Ukraine on Sunday following reports that a Croatian citizen fighting in Mariupol was captured by Russian forces. The Croatian government said the visit by Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic presented “an expression of solidarity and support” with the Ukrainian leadership and the people.
