G7 shirking its responsibilities on Russia

Additional information

In the event the G7 leaders maintained a strong line on Russia.

Extract from G7 Taormina Leaders' Communiqué, 27 May 2017

A sustainable solution to the crisis in Ukraine can only be reached with the full implementation by all sides of their commitments under the Minsk Agreements. We support the endeavors of the Normandy group and commend the multifaceted commitment of the OSCE in order to de-escalate the crisis. We stress the responsibility of the Russian Federation for the conflict and underline the role it needs to play to restore peace and stability. We reiterate our condemnation of the illegal annexation of the Crimean peninsula, reaffirm our policy of non-recognition, and fully support Ukraine's independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty. We recall that the duration of sanctions is clearly linked to Russia's complete implementation of its commitments in the Minsk Agreements and respect for Ukraine's sovereignty. Sanctions can be rolled back when Russia meets its commitments. However, we also stand ready to take further restrictive measures in order to increase costs on Russia should its actions so require. We maintain our commitment to assisting Ukraine in implementing its ambitious and yet necessary reform agenda and commend Kiev for its progress to date. Despite our differences with Russia, we are willing to engage with Russia to address regional crises and common challenges when it is in our interest.At the G7 Foreign Ministers Meeting, Lucca, 10-11 April 2017, the ministers failed to agree on a coordinated call for further targetted sanctions to be imposed against Syria and its key ally Russia.

The author argues in this commentary feature that in the context of the G7 Summit in Taormina, Sicily, 26-27 May 2017, if sanctions against Russia were considered not to be working, then the answer was not to lift them, but to strengthen them.

ESO: Key Source: EU sanctions against Russia over Ukraine crisis http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-sanctions-against-russia-over-ukraine-crisis/

ESO: Background information: The 2017 G7 Summit in Taormina http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-2017-g7-summit-in-taormina/

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