The US and its allies reiterate that they will make Russia pay for the war in Ukraine

the president of USA, Joe Biden; NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg; The president of the European Commission (EC), Ursula von der Leyen, and nine other world leaders promised this Tuesday to continue imposing “severe economic costs” on Russia for the war in Ukraine.

LOOK: Azovstal: why would a steel mill be the key point in the Russian siege of Mariupol?

In a video conference, the leaders also pledged to continue providing military, economic and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters.

They also agreed to send Ukraine more heavy artillery, according to Psaki.

In addition, the leaders condemned the suffering caused by the “unprovoked” and “unjustified” invasion of Russia and agreed to continue coordinating their efforts through the G7 and NATO.

According to the White House, the leaders participated in the videoconference for about an hour and a half, between 09:57 (13:57 GMT) and 11:21 local time (15:21 GMT).

In addition to Biden, Stoltenberg and Von der Leyen, the president of the European Council, Charles Michel, participated in the videoconference; the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, and the presidents of France, Emmanuel Macron; from Poland, Andrzej Duda, and from Romania, Klaus Iohannis.

Also in attendance were the Prime Ministers of Canada, Justin Trudeau; from the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson; from Italy, Mario Draghi, and from Japan, Fumio Kishida.

The virtual meeting took place at a time when Russia has launched the second phase of its war in Ukraine, focused on the “complete liberation” of pro-Russian Donbas, in the east of the country, an operation that includes the final assault on the steel mill of Azovstal, in Mariupol, the last stronghold of the Ukrainian resistance in the strategic port city.

Since its start on February 24, the war has left thousands dead and six million refugees, according to United Nations data on Tuesday.

Source: Elcomercio

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