G7 leaders condemn Russia over Ukraine
March 3, 2014
Washington — The leaders of the world’s top industrialized powers turned on fellow G8 member Russia for its “clear” violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty, withdrawing from preparations for June’s G8 summit in Sochi.
Symbolically billing themselves as the “G7,” the leaders said Russia’s actions were incompatible with the Group of Eight Nations, which Moscow joined in 1997, and said they would stay out of the Black Sea resort summit until the G8 can return to “meaningful” dialogue.
The statement, signed by the leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United States and the presidents of the European Council and European Commission, was released by the White House.