U.S. official: G7 to exert more pressure on Russia

By Yuya Yokobori / Yomiuri Shimbun Correspondent

17:04 JST, June 23, 2022

WASHINGTON — Group of Seven leaders will announce measures at their upcoming summit to exert more pressure on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, according to a U.S. official.

Speaking at a press conference in Washington on Wednesday, the official said the G7 leaders would express their continued support for Kyiv at the summit scheduled to start Sunday at Schloss Elmau in the Bavarian Alps in Germany.

According to the official, G7 leaders will discuss how to cut their dependence on Russian energy and [Russia’s] revenues from energy exports.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has already held talks mainly with European nations about a plan to set a price cap on Russian crude oil.

Measures against Russia are also likely to be a major agenda at North Atlantic Treaty Organization talks slated to be held in Madrid on June 28-30.

The leaders of Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand have been invited to the NATO talks.

The U.S. official said the United States and other NATO members will announce new measures to strengthen the defense of East European countries.

He also stressed that NATO would never turn its eyes away from Beijing’s moves. According to the official, NATO will adopt a new Strategic Concept at the Madrid summit that will factor in the challenges posed by China.