LIVERPOOL, England (AP) 鈥� The Group of Seven economic powers told Russia on Sunday to 鈥渄e-escalate鈥� its military buildup near the Ukrainian border, warning that an invasion would have 鈥渕assive consequences鈥� and inflict severe economic pain on Moscow.
Foreign ministers from the United States, Britain and the rest of the G-7, joined by the European Union鈥檚 foreign affairs chief, issued a joint statement declaring themselves 鈥渦nited in our condemnation of Russia鈥檚 military buildup and aggressive rhetoric towards Ukraine.鈥�
The G-7 called on Russia to 鈥渄e-escalate, pursue diplomatic channels, and abide by its international commitments on transparency of military activities,鈥� and praised Ukraine鈥檚 鈥渞estraint.鈥�
鈥淎ny use of force to change borders is strictly prohibited under international law. Russia should be in no doubt that further military aggression against Ukraine would have massive consequences and severe cost in response,鈥� the statement said.
Russia鈥檚 movement of weapons and troops to the border region dominated weekend talks among foreign ministers from the G-7 wealthy democracies in the English city of Liverpool.
The U.S. and it allies worry that the buildup could be precursor to an invasion, and have vowed to inflict heavy sanctions on Russia鈥檚 economy if that happens.
Moscow denies having any plans to attack Ukraine and accuses Kyiv of its own allegedly aggressive designs.
British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, the conference host, said the G-7 was sending a 鈥減owerful signal to our adversaries and our allies.鈥�
The statement promised a 鈥渃ommon and comprehensive response鈥� but contained no details. Truss said the G-7 was 鈥渃onsidering all options鈥� when it came to economic sanctions. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on NBC's 鈥淢eet the Press鈥� that 鈥渨e are prepared to take the kinds of steps we鈥檝e refrained from taking in the past鈥� if Russia didn't step back.
The U.S. and its allies have played down talk of a military response to defend Ukraine, with efforts focusing on tough sanctions that would hit the Russian economy, rather than just individuals.
In the U.S., reporters asked President Joe Biden on Saturday about the possibility of sending combat troops to Ukraine, and he said that idea was never considered. 鈥淎re you ready to send American troops into war and go into Ukraine to fight Russians on the battlefield?鈥� he said.
Biden, who spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin on a video call last week, said he had made clear that in the event of an invasion, 鈥渢he economic consequences for his economy are going to be devastating. Devastating.鈥�
Truss said Biden had made clear to Putin that the U.S. stance 鈥渃arries the support of the G-7 countries as a whole. And that should be very concerning for Vladimir Putin.鈥�
China鈥檚 muscle-flexing in the Indo-Pacific region and the ailing Iran nuclear deal were also on the agenda for the meeting of top diplomats from the U.K., the United States, sa国际传媒, France, Germany, Italy and Japan at the dockside Museum of Liverpool.
Getting a unified response to global crises from the G-7, a group of countries with disparate interests, has often proved tough.
Germany plans on getting gas from Russia soon through the contentious Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which bypasses Ukraine 鈥� though Blinken said it was hard to see the pipeline becoming operational 鈥渋f Russia has renewed its aggression on Ukraine, if it takes renewed action."
鈥淪o I think President Putin has to factor that in, too, as he鈥檚 thinking about what he鈥檚 going to do next,鈥� he said.
Britain, which isn't dependent on Russian gas, also has criticized the pipeline 鈥� but faces tricky questions about London鈥檚 financial district and property market, both hubs for Russian money.
U.K. bank and financial authorities have long been criticized for allegedly turning a blind eye to ill-gotten gains.
Truss insisted Britain has 鈥渧ery strong anti-corruption and anti-money laundering rules,鈥� but also suggested that Russian money and Russian gas came at a high price.
鈥淲e cannot have short term economic gain at the expense of our long term freedom and democracy,鈥� she said.
G-7 nations are also increasingly concerned about China鈥檚 growing economic and technological dominance, especially in developing countries. The G-7 has launched a 鈥淏uild Back Better World鈥� initiative to offer developing nations funding for big infrastructure projects as an alternative to money from China that, the West argues, often comes with strings attached.
Truss, who also invited ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to the Liverpool meeting, said the G-7 was 鈥渃oncerned about the coercive economic policies of China.鈥�
"What we鈥檝e set out is a positive agenda about making sure that countries have alternative sources of investment, alternative sources of trade,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd that we鈥檙e making sure that we abide by 鈥� and ensure others are abiding by 鈥� the rules based international system鈥� for trade.
A unified stance towards China continues to prove elusive, however, with the U.S. and Britain generally more hawkish than other G-7 members.
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AP Diplomatic Writer Matthew Lee contributed to this story.
Jill Lawless, The Associated Press
