The Group of Seven has agreed to “move swiftly to impose additional sanctions on Russia”, a joint statement on Saturday said, as pro-Russian militants in the country’s east detained several members of an OSCE observer mission near Slaviansk.
The G7 statement also praised the “restraint” with which the new government in Kiev has shown in dealing with the pro-Russian militants who have seized official buildings across the country’s east.
Earlier, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said EU foreign ministers would meet soon to discuss the issue following a conference call with US President Barack Obama, British Prime Minister David Cameron, French President François Hollande and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. The G7 also includes Canada and Japan.
The United States and the European Union have already targeted Russian President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle with visa and asset freezes and imposed sanctions on a key Russian bank.
Western leaders have repeatedly threatened to hit Russia with measures aimed at the wider economy.
Obama, however, has signalled that the new sanctions will not involve an attempt to target key areas of the Russian economy such as mining, energy and the financial sectors. US officials have said those measures would only be considered if Russia sends forces across the border into eastern Ukraine.
Several members of an OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe) observer mission to Ukraine were detained Friday at the entrance to Slaviansk and taken to the rebel-held security services building, sparking immediate international condemnation.
German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen said the pro-Russian separatists had taken 13 mission members, including three members of the German army and an interpreter.
The pro-Russian rebels holding them accused the observers of being “NATO spies” and said they would be freed only in a prisoner exchange.
“Yesterday, we arrested some NATO spies… they will be exchanged for our own prisoners. I don’t see any other way they will be freed,” Denis Pushilin, the head of the insurgents’ self-declared Donetsk Republic, told reporters.
Washington called for the immediate release of the OSCE team and State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki repeated claims that “there is a strong connection between Russia and these separatists” who are now taking hostages.
Rebels in Slaviansk on Friday released US national Simon Ostrovsky, one of three journalists they were believed to be holding.
france24
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