Sweeping Sanctions Against Putin: President Biden To Hold Virtual Meeting With G-7 Leaders

The White House has announced that US President Joe Biden is set to host a virtual meeting with the G-7 leaders along with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky today i.e. on Friday.

During the meeting, the US president will expect sweeping sanctions against Russia as its war against Ukraine enters the second year.

G-7 comprises seven major world economies including Canada, Italy, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan and the United States.

President Biden to hold a virtual meeting with G-7 leaders

Speaking to the media on Thursday, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said, “Tomorrow morning, President Biden will gather with G-7 leaders and President Zelenskyy for a virtual meeting to continue coordinating our efforts to support Ukraine and hold Russia accountable for its war.”

US-Japan partnership

Thanking Japan, the new G-7 president, for its recent pledge to provide Ukraine with an additional USD 5.5 billion in economic assistance, Jean-Pierre said Tokyo has proven a steadfast ally, ready to step up and do its part to advance their shared interests and values.

“Our alliance with Japan and Japan’s strong partnerships with countries in Europe only demonstrate the point we’ve been making all along, the Indo-Pacific and the Atlantic are not separate theatres here, but firmly linked together,” she said.

Observing that G-7 has become an anchor of a strong and united response to Russia, the press secretary said that the leaders will discuss how they continue supporting Ukraine and continue to increase pressure on Putin and all those who enable his aggression.

“Among other announcements, the United States will implement sweeping sanctions against key sectors that generate revenue for Putin, go after more Russian banks, Russia’s defence and technology, industry and actors in third-party countries that are attempting to backfill and evade our sanctions,” Jean-Pierre said.

Also Read: ‘It’s A Big Mistake..’ Reacts Biden over Putin’s Suspension of Nuclear Arms Treaty

More help to Ukraine

Moreover, the Biden Administration will also announce new economic energy and security assistance to help the Ukrainians continue to succeed on the battlefield, protect its people from Russian aggression and enable the Ukrainian government to provide basic services such as electricity and heat.

Further, the WH Press Secretary said, “As President made clear in Europe this week, the United States will continue to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.”

According to the State Department Spokesperson, Ned Price said that hours later US Secretary of State Tony Blinken will address the UN Security Council, during which he would speak to the imperative of supporting Ukraine and in support of just and durable peace, a peace that’s consistent with the principles of the UN Charter and one that will equip Ukraine too, over the longer term, continue to be a sovereign country, a democratic country, an independent country, a country that is whole and prosperous with the means to defend itself going forward.

In a virtual conversation on “Russia’s War on Ukraine: One Year Later” With Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic, Blinken said that the last year has seen not just an alliance, but a broader partnership that is strong, that is solid, that is standing up, providing the support to Ukraine, keeping the pressure on Russia, taking steps to strengthen our alliance.

“You see that reflected all the way from the UN to the NATO theatre itself, and around the world,” he said.