G7 reiterates support for Ukraine as Russia bolsters military ties with China, North Korea, Iran

The defence ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) countries have once again expressed alarm over Russia's military cooperation with China, North Korea and Iran.

In a joint statement prepared after their meeting in Naples, they emphasized that such cooperation allows Russia to continue its military actions in Ukraine, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

“We reiterate our unwavering support for Ukraine, which has for nearly three years defended itself against Russia’s brutal and full-scale illegal war of aggression. We condemn Russia, which has put in place a posture of confrontation and destabilization on a global scale, also resorting to hybrid warfare and the irresponsible use of nuclear rhetoric,” the statement reads.

The G7 ministers also express deep concern at China’s support to Russia, which is enabling Russia to maintain its illegal war in Ukraine and has significant and broad security implications, as well as the strengthening of military cooperation between China and Russia.

The G7 is also concerned about Russia's increasing military cooperation with North Korea and Iran, from where Russia allegedly receives ballistic missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as military equipment and technology to help circumvent the sanctions regime.

"We express our deep concern at the intensification of military cooperation between Iran and Russia, including in the supply of ballistic missiles, UAVs, military equipment and sensitive technology, aimed at circumventing the sanctions regime. We reaffirm our unwavering support for the freedom, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine for as long as it takes," the minister said.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the G7 with NATO, have played a central role in supporting Ukraine’s right to self-defence in order to counter Russia's aggression, to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine, reaffirming the primacy of international law, including the UN Charter and the principle of the inviolability of national sovereignty.

By Khagan Isayev