KIEV
\nIn a video conference on Tuesday, G7 leaders condemn recent Russian missile strikes on Ukraine, noting that attacks on civilian populations constituted a war crime.
\nWorld powers have said that they would hold Russian leader Vladimir Putin responsible for recent widespread aerial strikes on Ukrainian cities including Kiev.
\n\u201cWe condemn these attacks in the strongest possible terms and recall that indiscriminate attacks on innocent civilian populations constitute a war crime,\u201d the G7 said in a statement, after a video conference which was also addressed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
\n\u201cWe will hold President Putin and those responsible to account.\u201d
\n\u201cWe will continue to provide financial, humanitarian, military, diplomatic and legal support and will stand firmly with Ukraine for as long as it takes,\u201d the joint statement said.
\n\u201cWe reassured President Zelenskyy that we are undeterred and steadfast in our commitment to providing the support Ukraine needs to uphold its sovereignty and territorial integrity.\u201d
\nLeaders also criticised Russia\u2019s \u201cirresponsible nuclear rhetoric\u201d.
\n\u201cWe deplore deliberate Russian escalatory steps, including the partial mobilisation of reservists and irresponsible nuclear rhetoric, which is putting global peace and security at risk. We reaffirm that any use of chemical, biological or nuclear weapons by Russia would be met with severe consequences,\u201d the statement said.
\nZelenskyy told G7 leaders that Vladimir Putin still had \u201croom for escalation\u201d after two days of widespread aerial strikes on cities across Ukraine, including Kiev.
\n\u201cThe Russian leader, who is now in the final stage of his reign, still has room for further escalation,\u201d Zelenskyy said.
\nThis is \u201ca threat to all of us\u201d, he added.
\nHe also called on his Western allies to help Ukraine fund an air defence system after dozens of Russian attacks knocked out power facilities across the country.
\n\u201cI am asking you to strengthen the overall effort to help financially with the creation of an air shield for Ukraine.
\nMillions of people will be grateful to the Group of Seven for such assistance,\u201d he said during the video address to G7 leaders.
\nHe said that Ukraine for a second day in a row was suffering from \u201cmassive\u201d Russian missile strikes and said Moscow\u2019s forces had fired more than 84 missiles on Monday and another 28 on Tuesday.
\nBut he also said those attacks had been augmented with \u201cdozens of different drones\u201d.
\nHe also pointed to a heightened threat from Belarus and said Russia is seeking to drag its ally into the war, calling for international monitors to survey the Ukraine-Belarus border.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
KIEV In a video conference on Tuesday, G7 leaders condemn recent Russian missile strikes on Ukraine, noting that attacks on civilian populations constituted a war crime. World powers have said that they would hold Russian leader Vladimir Putin responsible for recent widespread aerial strikes on Ukrainian cities including Kiev. \u201cWe condemn these attacks in the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":288893,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-288867","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n