Top diplomats of the G7 countries have stressed that they will continue cooperating with Russia in settlement of regional crises, reads the joint statement adopted on Wednesday following the first in-person G7 meeting in two years.
The meetings were held in London between May 2 and 5 under the UK Presidency and involved representatives of the UK, Germany, Italy, Canada, the U.S., France and Japan as well as the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
"We will continue to engage with Russia in addressing regional crises and global challenges of common interest such as climate change; arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation; and peaceful, sustainable economic development and environmental protection in the Arctic," the statement reads.
"We reiterate our interest in stable and predictable relations with Russia. We nevertheless will continue to bolster our collective capabilities and those of our partners to address and deter Russian behaviour that is threatening the rules-based international order, including in the areas of cyberspace security and disinformation," TASS cited the G7 statement as saying.
The chief diplomats also mentioned "the large build-up of Russian military forces on Ukraine’s borders" as part of "the negative pattern of Russia’s irresponsible and destabilising behaviour."
