G7 warns Russia of expanded sanctions unless it backs ceasefire

The United States and its partners in the Group of Seven of Moscow have warned that they can expand sanctions and use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine, as Donald Trump is seeking to beat Vladimir Putin in the suggestion of the ceasefire.

A week later, Kiev participated in the 30 -day truce, Moscow indicated reluctance to do so immediately, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his counterparts achieved a degree of unity on Friday by crushing a joint statement on possible steps against Russia.

Their residence, which was released after the G7 meeting in Canada, indicated that foreign ministers discussed the imposition of more sanctions if the Kremlin did not completely carry out the ceasefire.

When asked about US sanctions, Rubio warned that Trump “does not want to do so now, because in the hope of attracting people from both sides to a process we can negotiate peace.”

He added that it was not yet clear whether Russia was playing for time.

“The question is, are we already moving towards the ceasefire, or is this a delay tactic?” The Foreign Minister said. “I will not answer it because I cannot describe it now.”

The Group of Seven statement said that the ministers discussed possible measures against Moscow, such as “hats on oil prices, in addition to additional support for Ukraine and other means”, especially revenues of the frozen Russian assets.

The Group of Seven freezes about 300 billion euros in the central assets of Russia-most of which are cash and -in--in 2022 after Moscow’s extensive invasion of Ukraine.

On Saturday, Sir Kerr Starmer will urge leaders from about 25 countries in an “alliance of those who wish” to be ready to monitor any ceasefire in Ukraine while discussing how to strengthen sanctions if Putin does not agree to a deal. The Downing Street confirmed that the seizure of Russia’s frozen origin was “on the table.”

He admitted that the seizure of such assets – the opposite of the use of the interest that accumulates them to support Ukraine as they are currently doing – was “a complex situation”, but he added: “All options are considered.”

France and Germany, which has long opposed a full seizure of the assets held in the European Union, heated the idea and discussed with the United Kingdom and other methods in which it can be used.

“We cannot allow President Putin to play games with President Trump’s deal,” said Starmer.

“If Russia finally reaches the table, we must be ready to monitor the ceasefire to ensure that it is dangerous and permanent peace. If they do not, we need to tension every person to increase economic pressure on Russia to secure this war.”

On Saturday morning, the video call follows the personal meeting of the “Rispare” coalition in Lancaster House in London two weeks ago.

Britain was hoping that Japanese Prime Minister Shigro Ishiba would participate, but Starmer’s assistants said on Friday that he would not be at stake. “We are still talking,” said an UK official.

On Friday, Rubio, who previously indicated that Kiev would have to make regional concessions, indicated that Moscow would also have to do so. He said: “I have never heard President Trump saying that Russia has the right to take all Ukraine and do what they want there.”

He added that the Trump’s national security team will meet this week after the return of President Steve Witkev’s envoy from Moscow to examine the Russian position.

Trump said in a post on his social network of truth that the previous day’s discussions with Putin were “good and productive.”

Until this week, the new administration focused on pressing Kyiv to agree on a quick end of the war, but Putin’s doubts about the immediate shooting have turned attention to Moscow.

“The ball is now present in the Russian court when it comes to Ukraine,” Canada Foreign Minister Milliani Jolie told reporters on Friday, adding that there is a “strong G7” unit in Ukraine.

One of the officials said that the text of the statement on Ukraine was a tense topic overnight. They said that strong language could disrupt talks with Russia and have been reduced to reach an agreement.

Kiev and his allies in Britain and France were keen to overcome a catastrophic meeting last month between Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodimir Zellinski, by re -measures against Russia on the US agenda.

The Zelinski government agreed to Trump’s proposal this week after the United States suspended military assistance and intelligence participation with Kiev – both of which are Washington now that it has resumed.

On the contrary, Putin said he had a ceasefire support but added that “issues” had needed to discuss them first.

His hesitation comes in support of the ceasefire proposal at a time when Russian forces made great progress in the Kursk region, where Ukraine seized more than 1000 square kilometers from Russia last summer.

In fact, Trump claimed that the Russian army had surrounded thousands of Ukrainian forces, adding that “I strongly asked Putin to raise their lives.”

The Ukrainian General Staff denied that the Ukrainian forces had come and said the fighting was still going on.

Putin said on Friday that the Ukrainian forces in Kursk should surrender to “implement Trump’s appeal” as Zelinski rejected Moscow’s position on a symmetrical ceasefire.

The Ukrainian president said: “Satan is in the details, and they will start providing you with details of you to a dialogue, delaying certain operations and postponing the end of the war.” He added that he hoped for a “strong reaction” from Trump to Putin’s position.

Zelinski also said that the issue of the Ukrainian lands occupied by the Russian forces would be the “most difficult” to solve it.

The ceasefire and the regions “are the most difficult moments [of a negotiation]He said. “The first is difficult because it requires courage and political will, and the second because it requires a difficult dialogue.”

Additional reports by Max Sidon in Berlin