Rishi Sunak has issued a warning to Vladimir Putin that he and other Western leaders are “not going away”, while attending the G7 summit in Japan.
The prime minister said Russia’s president must understand that Western allies are “steadfast” in their support for Ukraine’s resistance against the invasion.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky will attend the summit in Japan on Sunday, as Mr Sunak and allies turn up the pressure on Russia. The prime minister said Russia will “pay a price” as he launched a new wave of sanctions targeting the country, banning Russian diamonds and prohibiting imports of Russian copper, aluminium and nickel.
“My message to Putin is straightforward. We’re not going away,” Mr Sunak told Sky News at Hiroshima’s Seifukan tea house shortly before the summit kicks off.
There has been uncertainty whether the EU will go as far as Britain on diamonds, with the trade particularly lucrative for Belgium. But Mr Sunak said: “I’m hopeful and confident that our partner countries will follow as they have done when we’ve done this previously, that will make the sanctions more effective, ensure that Russia pays a price for its illegal activity.”
The world's most powerful democracies vowed on Friday to tighten punishments on Russia for its 15-month invasion of Ukraine, days before Mr Zelenskyy joins the summit in person on Sunday.
"Our support for Ukraine will not waver," the G7 leaders said, vowing "to stand together against Russia's illegal, unjustifiable, and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine."
"Russia started this war and can end this war," they said. The leaders said existing measures against Russia would be broadened and any exports that could help it in its 15-month war against Ukraine would be restricted across the G7 countries.
“This includes exports of industrial machinery, tools, and other technology that Russia uses to rebuild its war machine,” they said. Efforts will continue to restrict Russian revenues from its trade in metals and diamonds.
Having signed a new defence and security pact with Tokyo, Mr Sunak will visit the A-bomb dome ruin with his Japanese counterpart, Fumio Kishida, to reflect on the atomic devastation in the Second World War.
Talks between G7 allies, including US President Joe Biden and France’s Emmanuel Macron, will centre on military and economic support for Ukraine as they seek to show a united front.
Mr Sunak told Sky: “Russia needs to know that we and other countries remain steadfast in our resolve to support Ukraine, not just in the here and now with the resources it needs to protect itself, but for the long term as well.”
One of the common topics of conversation I'll be having... is about the longer-term security agreements that we put in place in Ukraine— Rishi Sunak
He added to ITV News: “They can’t just outlast us in this conflict.
“One of the common topics of conversation I’ll be having and have been having with my fellow leaders is about the longer-term security agreements that we put in place in Ukraine, to deter future Russian aggression.”
The UK is also preparing new individual sanctions against 86 people and companies to apply further pressure on the Russian president and his supporters.
The diamond export industry was worth more than £3 billion to Russia in 2021, but No 10 conceded direct imports have been low since the UK sanctioned state-owned miners Alrosa last year.
Britain’s move will add pressure on any hesitant allies to follow suit.
The three-day summit – also including Germany, Italy and Canada – will also include talks on economic stability and the security of Taiwan in the face of Chinese aggression.
Mr Sunak’s official spokesman said: “Guarding against economic coercion is something that the Prime Minister is pushing for.”
On Sunday, Mr Sunak will meet his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, who is attending the summit as a guest.
Mr Modi, who has been close to the Russian president, has remained neutral on the Russian invasion, calling for peaceful dialogue to end the war.
The Prime Minister told reporters travelling with him in Japan that he has seen “positive” steps from India in its stance and stressed the need to keep up the dialogue.
“One thing we have to keep doing is talking to countries like India and also Brazil, that is going to be in that second part of the summit which is a good thing,” Mr Sunak told reporters.
Russia needs to know that we and other countries remain steadfast in our resolve to support Ukraine, not just in the here and now with the resources it needs to protect itself, but for the long term as well.— Rishi Sunak
Mr Sunak said on Friday that the Russian president needs to understand the Western allies are “steadfast” in supporting Mr Zelensky’s resistance against the invasion.
“My message to Putin is straightforward. We’re not going away,” Mr Sunak told Sky News during a round of interviews at Hiroshima’s Seifukan tea house shortly before the summit kicks off.
Britain is banning Russian diamonds in a new wave of sanctions to pressure Russia that will also prohibit imports of Russian-origin copper, aluminium and nickel.
There has been uncertainty whether the EU will go as far as Britain on diamonds, with the trade particularly lucrative for Belgium, but Mr Sunak said he is “hopeful and confident” allies will follow.
Having signed a new defence and security pact with Tokyo, Mr Sunak will visit the A-bomb dome ruin with his Japanese counterpart, Fumio Kishida, to reflect on the atomic devastation in the Second World War.
Talks between G7 allies, including US President Joe Biden and France’s Emmanuel Macron, will centre on military and economic support for Ukraine as they seek to show a united front.
Mr Sunak told Sky: “Russia needs to know that we and other countries remain steadfast in our resolve to support Ukraine, not just in the here and now with the resources it needs to protect itself, but for the long term as well.”
He added to ITV News: “They can’t just outlast us in this conflict.
“One of the common topics of conversation I’ll be having and have been having with my fellow leaders is about the longer-term security agreements that we put in place in Ukraine, to deter future Russian aggression.”
The UK is also preparing new individual sanctions against 86 people and companies to apply further pressure on the Russian president and his supporters.
The diamond export industry was worth more than £3 billion to Russia in 2021 but No 10 conceded direct imports have been low since the UK sanctioned state-owned miners Alrosa last year.
Britain’s move will add pressure on any hesitant allies to follow suit.
Mr Sunak told the BBC: “I’m hopeful and confident that our partner countries will follow as they have done when we’ve done this previously, that will make the sanctions more effective, ensure that Russia pays a price for its illegal activity.”
The three-day summit – also including Germany, Italy and Canada – will include talks on economic stability and the security of Taiwan in the face of Chinese aggression.
Mr Sunak’s official spokesman said: “Guarding against economic coercion is something that the Prime Minister is pushing for.”
On Sunday, Mr Sunak will meet his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, who is attending the summit as a guest.
Mr Modi, who has been close to the Russian president, has remained neutral on the Russian invasion, calling for peaceful dialogue to end the war.
The Prime Minister told reporters travelling with him in Japan that he has seen “positive” steps from India in its stance and stressed the need to keep up the dialogue.
“One thing we have to keep doing is talking to countries like India and also Brazil, that is going to be in that second part of the summit which is a good thing,” Mr Sunak told reporters.
Additional reporting by PA.
