The leaders of the United States, France, Germany and the United Kingdom are determined to punish Russia more for having invaded Ukraine, the White House said Monday after a meeting by videoconference.
Joe Biden, Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz and Boris Johnson “affirmed their determination to continue to increase the costs to Russia of the unprovoked and unwarranted invasion of Ukraine.”according to a statement from the US government.
Germany, the US, France and the United Kingdom will support “all diplomatic efforts” to overcome the Ukraine crisis, according to the statement issued by Berlin after the conversation between Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Presidents Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
The protection of the civilian population has “the highest priority”states the text, where urges Russia again to “immediately end” its “illegitimate” attack on Ukraine and to completely withdraw their troops.
The Russian attack has caused “dramatic human pain” in Ukraine and “cannot be justified by anything or anyone,” continues the statement, issued after the telephone conversation between the four leaders on Monday.
The call is part of the multiple negotiations and telephone contacts both between these four powers and, by Biden and Scholz, with the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky.
Macron, for his part, has also remained in telephone contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who received Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Benet last Saturday in Moscow.
China, for its part, has stated that it is already acting as a mediator between Russia and Ukraine, its Foreign Minister Wang Yi explained today.
The Western allies have maintained a united front on sanctions against Russia for invading Ukrainebut cracks emerged on Monday at the prospect of an embargo on Russian oil and gas imports, a move opposed by Germany, which relies on Russian fuel.
The statement released in Berlin after the meeting does not mention sanctions and focuses on concerns about humanitarian aid to besieged areas, which the leaders also spoke about. (I)
Source: Eluniverso
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