PARIS (Reuters) – G7 foreign ministers on Saturday called on Russia to “choose the path of diplomacy” and “defuse tensions” with Ukraine in a joint statement as incidents escalated in the country. To the east of the former Soviet republic.

In a joint statement, the diplomacy heads of Germany, Canada, the United States, France, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom, as well as the High Representative of the European Union, underlined that “any new military offensive against Ukraine would be financial and economic.” Serious consequences, including sanctions, which will carry “serious costs” for the Russian economy.

“We call on Russia to choose the path of diplomacy, to de-escalate tensions, to withdraw a large part of our armed forces from the immediate vicinity of Ukraine’s borders”, read a statement issued by the French Foreign Ministry in Paris. can. ,

“As a first step, we expect Russia to make up for its declared lack of military activity on the Ukrainian border. We will judge Russia by its actions.”

Ministers say they are “particularly concerned about measures taken by self-declared ‘people’s republics’, which should be seen as preparing the ground for military escalation”.

(Written by Sophie Luett)