Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven affluent nations (G7) said Russia would face “severe consequences” if it used chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons, and anyone who supported Russia in Ukraine would face “severe costs.”
“Russia’s reckless nuclear rhetoric and threat to deploy nuclear weapons in Belarus are unacceptably dangerous.” “Any use of chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons by Russia would be met with severe consequences,” the ministers stated in a declaration issued Tuesday, April 18.
“We remain committed to intensifying sanctions against Russia, coordinating and fully enforcing them,” the statement stated. “We reiterate our call for third parties to stop assisting Russia’s war or face severe consequences.”
The group also sharply condemned Russia’s “widespread use of information manipulation and disinformation” in order to generate support for its conflict with Ukraine.
The group of ministers also stated that they favour “exploring the creation” of an international tribunal headquartered in Ukraine’s judicial system to pursue crimes of aggression against Ukraine.
“There can be no impunity for war crimes and other atrocities, such as Russia’s attacks against civilians and critical civilian infrastructure,” the communique stated.
The communiqué comes as G7 foreign ministers conclude three days of negotiations in the central Japanese town of Karuizawa, Nagano prefecture, on Tuesday.
