The two-day G7 summit has kicked off in Bavaria as its leaders gathered to discuss hot-button issues such as Ukrainian crisis, with some voicing support for tougher Russia sanctions despite the economic difficulties they bring to the EU.
“All of us would prefer to have Russia around the G7 table,” European Council President Donald Tusk said at a luxury Bavarian hotel in Schloss Elmau. “But our group is not only a group [that shares] political or economic interests, but first of all this is a community of values. And that is why Russia is not among us here today.”
He also backed tougher sanctions against Russia, hoping that it would be put in place at the end of this month at a meeting of EU leaders in Brussels.
He also backed tougher sanctions against Russia, hoping that it would be put in place at the end of this month at a meeting of EU leaders in Brussels.
"If anyone wants to start a discussion about changing the sanctions regime, it could only be about strengthening it," Tusk said.
Tusk was joined by British Prime Minister David Cameron, who urged EU leaders to stay united on upholding Russia sanctions despite the pain they cause to the bloc.
"[Sanctions have] an impact on all countries in terms of putting sanctions on another country. [But] Britain hasn't let our preeminence in financial services get in the way of taking a robust response to Russian-backed aggression and I don't think other countries should either," Cameron said.
"[Sanctions have] an impact on all countries in terms of putting sanctions on another country. [But] Britain hasn't let our preeminence in financial services get in the way of taking a robust response to Russian-backed aggression and I don't think other countries should either," Cameron said.
Investigative journalist Tony Gosling told RT that it seems Western politicians are being driven by the US into rhetoric about uniting against Russia.
“This is our old Cold War talk, that is really driven by the Americans, and it certainly does not represent the views of European people or business, which is a bit worrying,” he said.
The recent escalation of violence in Ukraine has prompted fears that the fragile ceasefire agreed in Minsk in February could break down. The residential areas in eastern Ukraine have been shelled in recent weeks resulting in civilian casualties. Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) monitors have reported violation of the Minsk ceasefire agreements by both sides of the conflict.
Moscow has called on Western states to urge Kiev to make all efforts to stick to the Minsk agreements. At the UN Security Council meeting on Saturday, Russia’s UN envoy Vitaly Churkin noted that there has been frustration with Kiev’s “flagrant violation and blunt ignorance of the Minsk agreements” among Western states.
Among other issues dominating the G7 talks in Bavaria is the Greek debt crisis. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has said that a Greek exit from the euro currency is not an option, but cautioned Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras against distorting proposals by international creditors for a cash-for-reform deal to save Athens from default. The two-day summit is also expected to focus on tackling terrorism and global warming.
Among other issues dominating the G7 talks in Bavaria is the Greek debt crisis. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has said that a Greek exit from the euro currency is not an option, but cautioned Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras against distorting proposals by international creditors for a cash-for-reform deal to save Athens from default. The two-day summit is also expected to focus on tackling terrorism and global warming.
The summit has been met with mass demonstrations by anti-capitalist and anti-globalization protests in several Bavarian cities. The protests started ahead of the summit’s launch on Saturday, while thousands of riot police have been deployed to the rally locations. Police have used tear gas against anti-G7 protesters in the town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
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