The seven promises a miserable

Countries G7 threatened Russia with sanctions against a number of sectors of the economy in case of further escalation of the situation around Ukraine. This is stated in the Hague declaration adopted by the results of the meeting of the heads of state "Seven" held on Monday.

G7 leaders confirmed their support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Ukraine. They strongly condemned the illegal annexation of Crimea.

"Russia's actions will have serious consequences. This is a clear violation of international law is a serious challenge to the rule of law around the world and cause concern to all countries," the declaration says. "We are ready to strengthen actions, including coordinated actions by sectors that will have a significant impact on the Russian economy if Russia continues to escalate the situation."

The leaders of the Seven also announced the suspension of their participation in the G8, in this way the format of the "big eight". "We will suspend our participation in the" eight "until Russia changes the course and the political climate will return to the state in which the" eight "is possible," the document says. Thus, not only the June G8 summit in Sochi was canceled, from participating in the preparation of which the seven countries refused in early March, but also a meeting of the Eight Foreign Ministry, which was planned for April in Moscow. The G7 countries also announced their intention to start consultations at the level of energy ministers to ensure "mutual security".

The nearest Semerian summit will be held in June 2014 in Brussels.

On Monday, the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Sergei Lavrov, said that Russia does not cling to G8 membership if Western countries do not want to see it in this club. All the main world problems today can be discussed as part of the "big twenty" and other forums, the minister explained. “Eight” is an informal club, no one writes out membership tickets there, no one can drive anyone out of there by definition, ”said Lavrov. - With the basis of “twenty”, all economic, financial issues are discussed precisely in the “group of twenty”.

In early March, the leaders of the seven leading countries of the world in a joint statement with the leaders of the European Union condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine and announced that they canceled preparations for the June G8 summit in Sochi . "Russia's actions in Ukraine ... violate the principles and values ​​on which the G7 and G8 are based," the statement said.