The G7 agreed to new sanctions on Russia to stifle its war machine

Hiroshimaone of two Japanese cities attacked by an atomic bomb in World War II, hosts from this Friday the G7 summit. The leaders of the member states signaled that Russia and the war in Ukraine will continue to lead the international agenda in the short term, and they agreed on a new series of sanctions aimed at “stifling the Russian war machine” and closing loopholes that have allowed Russian individuals and entities to escape international punishment.

In a statement released at the end of the closed-door meeting, G7 leaders reaffirmed their commitment to Ukraine to achieve a “just, complete and lasting peace” that requires the “unconditional and complete withdrawal of Russian troops.” From Hiroshima, a vivid memory of the tragedy of the war, the seven world powers once again insisted on the idea that the Russian invasion of Ukraine was not only a “blatant violation of the UN charter”, but that it had a global dimension with “impact” on the rest of the world.

As evidence of their support for the Ukrainian cause, they announced an agreement to impose a new round of sanctions on Russia to strip its war machine of “technology, equipment and services.” Washington, Ottawa and London would be the main drivers of this series of measures. Great Britain will ban the import of Russian diamonds, copper, aluminum and nickel. Canada has announced new sanctions against individuals and companies associated with providing technology to Russia. The United States, for its part, will update its blacklist of entities that cannot receive US exports and will impose sanctions on 300 individuals, entities and vehicles that help Russia evade the sanctions regime and finance the war.

Japan will also update its list of sanctioned companies, and Germany, France and Italy, depending on approval European Union, promised to publish a new package of sanctions coming soon.

Zelensky’s visit

Volodymyr Zelensky’s potential visit to Hiroshima on Friday has sparked speculation. While the Ukrainian president was initially expected to attend the summit electronically, Kiev announced early Friday that he would travel to Japan “to make clear proposals and arguments about what is happening” in his country, according to the secretary of the National Defense Council. , Oleksiy Danilov. Later, official Ukrainian sources denied Zelensky’s trip. As the first day of the summit drew to a close, the latest twist of the script emerged from the Indian media, confirming that Zelenski and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi were to meet in Hiroshima on Sunday. For security reasons, the agenda of the Ukrainian president is kept secret.

The second day of the summit will focus on agreeing on new tools to curb China’s “economic coercion”.

Kremlin adds 500 more Americans to its blacklist, including Obama

Russia added others 500 Americansincluding former President Barack Obama, on his blacklist in response to a new package of sanctions imposed by the US “Washington should have realized a long time ago that no hostile attack on Russia will go without a strong response,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

Among those sanctioned who are prohibited from entering the territory of Russia are: high officials, congressmen and senators elected in November 2022, as well as the heads of military industry companies that supply arms to Ukraine.

The blacklist includes those members of state security bodies who persecute dissidents, and as an example he cites participants in the attack on the Capitol that took place in January 2021. There are also experts and analysts from centers that participated in the spread of fake news. about Russia, journalists and famous presenters like James Kimmel or Stephen Colbert.

It was announced by the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs in the search and capture of the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Karim Ahmad Khan, who issued the warrant for the arrest of President Vladimir Putin, according to the independent portal Mediazona, which also adds a screenshot of the search system of the Russian internal affairs that contains the photo and other personal information of the prosecutor.