AMN/ WEB DESK
The Group of Seven richest democracies have sought to dissuade Russia from invading Ukraine, putting on a united front to warn of dire consequences for any incursion. The Group also urged Moscow to return to the negotiating table.
Led by British foreign minister Liz Truss, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the European Union and foreign ministers from France, Italy, Germany, Japan and Canada met in the northern English city of Liverpool.
The G7 meeting comes as the West frets over China’s military and economic ambitions, the possibility that talks to prevent Iran pursuing a path to nuclear weapons could fail, and as Russia masses troops on the Ukrainian border.
A senior U.S. State Department official described the day’s talks as “intense” and said there was still a diplomatic path to de-escalate the tensions with Russia.
Ukraine is at the centre of a crisis in East-West relations as it accuses Russia of massing tens of thousands of troops in preparation for a possible large-scale military offensive.
Meanwhile, Russia has denied planning any attack and accused Ukraine and the United States of destabilising behaviour, and has said it needs security guarantees for its own protection.