G7 leaders call for stable and predictable relations with Russia but urge Moscow to stop the behavior they consider destabilizing, the final communique of the summit said on Sunday.
"We reiterate our interest in stable and predictable relations with Russia, and will continue to engage where there are areas of mutual interest. We reaffirm our call on Russia to stop its destabilising behaviour and malign activities, including its interference in other countries’ democratic systems, and to fulfil its international human rights obligations and commitments," the final statement said.
The G7 also urged Moscow to respect human rights and called to hold responsible those within Russia, who in their opinion, are involved in cyberattacks. "In particular, we call on Russia to urgently investigate and credibly explain the use of a chemical weapon on its soil, to end its systematic crackdown on independent civil society and media, and to identify, disrupt, and hold to account those within its borders who conduct ransomware attacks, abuse virtual currency to launder ransoms, and other cybercrimes," the 25-page document said.
Russia has been consistently refuting the West’s statements that its actions are of destabilizing nature or that cyberattacks targeting other countries are initiated on its territory.
Leaders of the G7 group of nations comprising the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Canada, the United States, France and Japan, are gathering in the seaside resort of Carbis Bay in Cornwall, UK on June 11-13. Head of the European Council Charles Michel, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen as well as the invited leaders of Australia, South Korea and South Africa and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the new Director General of the WTO, are also among the participants. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is participating in a remote format due to the tense coronavirus situation in his country. The main issue of the summit’s agenda is the global recovery after the coronavirus pandemic.
