G7 leaders urge Russia to stop undermining democracies

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G7 leaders urge Russia to stop undermining democracies

By Jan Strupczewski

LA MALBAIE, Quebec (Reuters) – Leaders of the Group of Seven countries urged Russia on Saturday to stop undermining democracies and said they were ready to step up sanctions against Moscow if necessary.

The leaders of the United States, Canada, Japan, France, Germany, Italy and Britain made the strongly worded statement just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump, who is part of the G7, said he wanted Moscow re-invited to the group.

“We urge Russia to cease its destabilizing behavior, to undermine democratic systems and its support of the Syrian regime,” the leaders said in a statement at the end of their two-day meeting in La Malbaie, Quebec.

The G7 leaders condemned an attack in Salisbury in Britain on a former Russian spy using a Russian-made military grade nerve agent, saying it was highly likely Moscow was responsible because there was no other plausible explanation. Russia denies having anything to do with the attack.

The G7 leaders made a commitment on Friday, without naming Russia, to share information between themselves and work with internet service providers and social media companies to thwart foreign meddling in elections. The Kremlin has denied allegations by the United States and some European countries that Russia interfered in their elections.

Earlier on Saturday, Trump told a news conference the issue of Russia’s return to the group was discussed. Russia was a member of the then G8 until it was expelled for annexing Crimea in 2014.

“I think it would be an asset to have Russia back in. I think it would be good for the world. I think it would be good for Russia. I think it would be good for the United States. I think it would be good for all of the countries of the current G7,” Trump said.

Italy’s new Prime Minister Giuseppe Conti expressed similar sentiment.

But the final communique struck a different note, saying western sanctions against Russia would continue as long as Moscow failed to meet its obligations in Ukraine under the Minsk accord it signed, and could even be stepped up.

“We reiterate our condemnation of the illegal annexation of Crimea and reaffirm our enduring support for Ukrainian sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders,” the G7 statement said.

“The continuation of sanctions is clearly linked to Russia’s failure to demonstrate complete implementation of its commitments in the Minsk Agreements and respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty,” it said.

The Minsk Agreement brokered by Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France was to produce, among others, a ceasefire in the eastern Ukraine regions engulfed by a pro-Russian insurgency and restore full control of Ukraine’s eastern border to Kiev.

French President Emmanuel Macron said he would welcome his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin at the next G7 summit to be held in France next year, but only if Russia delivered on its Minsk agreement commitments.

(Reporting By Jan Strupczewski; Additional reporting by Jean-Baptiste Vey and William James; editing by Grant McCool)

: Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and G7 leaders work on the joint statement following a breakfast meeting on the second day of the G7 meeting in Charlevoix city of La Malbaie, Quebec, Canada, June 9, 2018. Adam Scotti/Prime Minister’s Office/Handout via REUTERS

: Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and G7 leaders Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May, France’s President Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel, and U.S. President Donald Trump discuss the joint statement following a breakfast meeting on the second day of the G7 meeting in Charlevoix city of La Malbaie, Quebec, Canada, June 9, 2018. Adam Scotti/Prime Minister’s Office/Handout via REUTERS

: Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and G7 leaders Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May, France’s President Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel, and U.S. President Donald Trump discuss the joint statement following a breakfast meeting on the second day of the G7 meeting in Charlevoix city of La Malbaie, Quebec, Canada, June 9, 2018. Adam Scotti/Prime Minister’s Office/Handout via REUTERS

: Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and G7 leaders France’s President Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel, Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May and U.S. President Donald Trump hold a meeting with staff on the first day of the G7 meeting in Charlevoix city of La Malbaie, Quebec, Canada, June 8, 2018. Adam Scotti/Prime Minister’s Office/Handout via REUTERS

: Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and G7 leaders Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May, France’s President Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel, and U.S. President Donald Trump discuss the joint statement following a breakfast meeting on the second day of the G7 meeting in Charlevoix city of La Malbaie, Quebec, Canada, June 9, 2018. Adam Scotti/Prime Minister’s Office/Handout via REUTERS

: U.S. President Donald Trump gives a press briefing with U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton and Larry Kudlow at the G7 summit in the Charlevoix city of La Malbaie, Quebec, Canada June 9, 2018. REUTERS/Leah Millis

: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks as he departs from the G7 summit in the Charlevoix city of La Malbaie, Quebec, Canada, June 9, 2018. REUTERS/Yves Herman

: U.S. President Donald Trump waves as he arrives to board Air Force One to depart for travel to Singapore from the Canadian Forces Base Bagotville, Quebec, Canada, June 9, 2018. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

: Front row (R-L): Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel, France’s President Emmanuel Macron and Seychelles President Danny Faure pose for a G7 and outreach countries family photo as part of a G7 Summit in the Charlevoix city of La Malbaie, Quebec, Canada, June 9, 2018. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi

: Attendees, including the host, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (C), pose for a G7 and outreach countries summit as part of a G7 summit in the Charlevoix city of La Malbaie, Quebec, Canada, June 9, 2018. REUTERS/Yves Herman

: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks as French President Emmanuel Macron looks on at a G7 and Gender Equality Advisory Council meeting as part of a G7 summit in the Charlevoix city of La Malbaie, Quebec, Canada, June 9, 2018. REUTERS/Yves Herman

: Christine Lagarde, the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, (C) German Chancellor Angela Merkel, (second from left), and Dayle Haddon (far left) react as U.S. President Donald Trump shows up late to the Gender Equality Advisory Council breakfast working during the G-7 summit in the Charlevoix city of La Malbaie, Quebec, Canada, June 9, 2018. REUTERS/Leah Millis

: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attends a G7 and Gender Equality Advisory Council meeting as part of a G7 summit in the Charlevoix city of La Malbaie, Quebec, Canada, June 9, 2018. REUTERS/Yves Herman

: U.S. President Donald Trump, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund Christine Lagarde and Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel attend a G7 and Gender Equality Advisory Council meeting as part of a G7 summit in the Charlevoix city of La Malbaie, Quebec, Canada, June 9, 2018. REUTERS/Yves Herman

: U.S. President Donald Trump and Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund Christine Lagarde attend a G7 and Gender Equality Advisory Council meeting as part of a G7 summit in the Charlevoix city of La Malbaie, Quebec, Canada, June 9, 2018. REUTERS/Yves Herman

: European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker attends a G7 and Gender Equality Advisory Council meeting as part of a G7 summit in the Charlevoix city of La Malbaie, Quebec, Canada, June 9, 2018. REUTERS/Yves Herman

: Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May attends a G7 and Gender Equality Advisory Council meeting as part of a G7 summit in the Charlevoix city of La Malbaie, Quebec, Canada, June 9, 2018. REUTERS/Yves Herman

: Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks as France’s President Emmanuel Macron, Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel and other attendees look on at a G7 and Gender Equality Advisory Council meeting as part of a G7 summit in the Charlevoix city of La Malbaie, Quebec, Canada, June 9, 2018. REUTERS/Yves Herman