G7 leaders admonish Russia for ‘irresponsible nuclear rhetoric’ on second anniversary of Ukraine war

The Group of Seven (G7) leaders reprimanded Russia Saturday for its use of “irresponsible nuclear rhetoric” on the second anniversary of the Kremlin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. 

“Russia’s irresponsible nuclear rhetoric, its posture of strategic intimidation and its undermining of arms control regimes are unacceptable,” the intergovernmental political and economic forum leaders said Saturday in a statement, after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

“Threats by Russia of nuclear weapon use, let alone any use of nuclear weapons by Russia, in the context of its war of aggression against Ukraine are inadmissible,” the group added.

The leaders also reiterated their full support for Ukraine and vowed to impose more sanctions on Russia, targeting companies and individuals who help the Russian military acquire weapons or aid the Kremlin with production. 

Their rebuke comes just a day after President Biden announced more than 500 new sanctions targeting Russia, anyone connected to Alexei Navalny’s imprisonment or death and the country’s financial sector and defense industrial base. 

“We will continue to apply significant pressure on Russian revenues from energy and other commodities,” the group — comprised of leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the U.K. and the U.S. — said the statement. “We will continue to take steps to tighten compliance and enforcement of the oil price cap.” 

But as the G7 leaders reaffirmed their commitment to Zelensky, the country’s military base is running dry on ammunition to carry out their defense against Russia.

In the early months of Russia’s invasion, supplying Ukraine with military and financial aid had bipartisan support on Congress. But now, on the two-year anniversary of the war, the chambers are stuck in gridlock.

The last time Washington provided significant military aid was in December.

House Republicans have argued that any chance for foreign aid to pass through the lower chamber would have include funding to secure the U.S.-Mexico border. Senate Republicans, however, blocked a bipartisan border package earlier this month.

In a second attempt to move Ukraine funding, the Senate passed a separate bill — but Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has refused to bring it to a vote on the House floor, giving Russian President Vladimir Putin and his military needed time to regain momentum.

A new bill coupling Ukraine and the border was introduced last week, but no progress has been made thus far on it.

Ukraine lost the eastern city of Avdiivka this week after Kyiv’s military had to retreat. Zelensky has argued extensively that the delay of aid is making life “extremely difficult” for Ukrainian troops.