G7 to continue economic pressure on Russia, tackle ‘wheat war’

By Alexander Ratz and John Irish

WEISSENHAUS, Germany (Reuters) -Group of Seven international ministers vowed on Saturday to strengthen Russia’s financial and political isolation, proceed supplying weapons to Ukraine and deal with what Germany’s international minister described as a “wheat struggle” being waged by Moscow.

After assembly at a 400-year-old citadel property within the Baltic Sea resort of Weissenhaus, senior diplomats from Britain, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, the USA and the European Union additionally pledged to proceed their navy and defence help for “so long as crucial”.

They’d additionally deal with what they known as Russian misinformation geared toward blaming the West for meals provide points world wide as a result of financial sanctions on Moscow and urged China to not help Moscow or justify Russia’s struggle, in line with a joint assertion.

“Have we executed sufficient to mitigate the implications of this struggle? It isn’t our struggle. It is a struggle by the president of Russia, however we have now world duty,” Germany’s Overseas Minister Annalena Baerbock instructed reporters at a closing information convention.

Key to placing extra stress on Russia is to ban or section out shopping for Russian oil with EU member states anticipated subsequent week to succeed in an settlement on the difficulty even when it stays at this stage opposed by Hungary.

“We are going to expedite our efforts to cut back and finish reliance on Russian power provides and as rapidly as attainable, constructing on g7 commitments to section out or ban imports of Russian coal and oil,” the assertion mentioned.

The ministers mentioned they might add additional sanctions on Russian elites, together with financial actors, central authorities establishments and the navy, which allow President Valdimir Putin “to guide his struggle of selection.”

The assembly in northern Germany, which the international ministers of Ukraine and Moldova attended, additionally spotlighted meals safety considerations and fears that the struggle in Ukraine might spill over into its smaller neighbour Moldova.

“Individuals shall be dying in Africa and the Center East and we’re confronted with an pressing query: how can individuals be fed world wide? Individuals are asking themselves what is going to occur if we do not have the grain we’d like that we used to get from Russia and Ukraine,” Baerbock mentioned.

She added that the G7 would work on discovering logistical options to get important commodities out of Ukraine storage earlier than the subsequent harvests.

Consideration now turns to Berlin as ministers meet in a while Saturday with Sweden and Finland gearing as much as apply for membership of the transatlantic alliance, drawing threats of retaliation from Moscow and objections from NATO member Turkey.

“It can be crucial that we have now a consensus,” Canada’s Overseas Minister Melanie Joly instructed reporters when requested about Turkey probably blocking their accession.

Putin calls the invasion a “particular navy operation” to disarm Ukraine and rid it of anti-Russian nationalism fomented by the West. Ukraine and its allies say Russia launched an unprovoked struggle.

“Extra of the identical,” EU Overseas Coverage chief Josep Borrell instructed reporters. “The one factor that’s lacking is pushing for a diplomatic engagement to get a ceasefire. It’s lacking as a result of Vladimir Putin has been saying to everyone that he would not need to cease the struggle.”

(Writing by John Irish; Modifying by Mike Harrison)