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Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday accused the Group of Seven of “cynicism” for backing Ukraine’s military operation against armed pro-Russian insurgents.
“The so-called G7 even talks about the measured actions of the Ukrainian army against its own people,” Medvedev told ministers, quoted by the Interfax news agency. “This is cynicism without limit.”

World leaders urged Vladimir Putin on Wednesday to stop destabilising Ukraine or face further sanctions as they met without a Russian president for the first time since the 1990s.
Putin reached out a hand despite being banned from the Group of Seven summit following Russia’s annexation of Crimea in March, saying that he was ready to meet Ukraine’s president-elect.
But G7 leaders said that while they still hoped for “constructive” talks with Putin on the sidelines of D-Day commemorations in France on Friday, Moscow could face further punitive measures.
In a joint communique they said Putin must recognise the results of Ukraine’s May 25 presidential election, won by Petro Poroshenko, stem destabilisation in the east of the country, and pull Russian troops back from the border.
“Actions to destabilise eastern Ukraine are unacceptable and must stop,” the group said.
“We stand ready to intensify targeted sanctions and to implement significant additional restrictive measures to impose further costs on Russia should events so require.”

US President Barack Obama earlier hit out at Russia’s “dark tactics” in Ukraine in a hawkish speech in Warsaw that harked back to some of the darkest days of the Cold War.
Obama has shown no signs of wanting a meeting with Putin despite the fact that both will be in Normandy to mark the 70th anniversary of the second world war D-Day landings in Europe.
Other G7 leaders whose economies are more exposed to Russia than Washington took a softer tone.

	“The entire world remembers the US secretary of state demonstrating the evidence of Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction.”

	Vladimir Putin
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that European leaders would “take stock” of Russian actions at a summit end and “reflect which further sanctions are necessary”.
But Merkel, who is due to meet Putin in France, said that “the main thing is to be constructive” and that further sanctions would take effect only if there had been “no progress whatsoever”.
French President Francois Hollande – who is scheduled to have separate dinners with both Putin and Obama in Paris on Thursday – agreed that “dialogue and de-escalation must be encouraged”.
British Prime Minister David Cameron said he would be taking a similar message to Putin when he meets him also on Thursday.
Putin hinted that he could meet both Poroshenko and even Obama, saying “I don’t plan to avoid anyone”.

But he taunted the United States and waved away allegations of Russian military meddling in eastern Ukraine.
“Proof? Let’s see it!” he said. “The entire world remembers the US secretary of state demonstrating the evidence of Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction, waving around some test tube with washing powder in the UN Security Council”.
The worst East-West crisis in decades dominated Thursday’s G7 talks, a summit due to have been hosted by Putin in the Black Sea resort of Sochi but switched to Brussels in the anger that followed Moscow’s wresting of Crimea from Ukraine in March.

	“How can we allow the dark tactics of the 20th century to define this new century.”

	Barack Obama
The crisis began when then Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych rejected an association deal with the EU late last year, triggering protests that ended in his downfall in February and were followed by months of clashes between the new government and pro-Moscow rebels.
Obama earlier promised years of US support for Ukraine and for ex-communist Nato states, plus a US$1 billion fund for new military rotations through Eastern Europe.
“How can we allow the dark tactics of the 20th century to define this new century?” Obama asked in his Warsaw speech marking 25 years of Polish democracy after the Cold War.
Earlier, Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel announced in Brussels a review of the US forces’ presence in Europe in a sign that Washington is not backing down.
Obama met Poroshenko three days before his inauguration and declared himself “deeply impressed” by the ‘chocolate tycoon’ Ukrainians chose to lead them back from a political and economic precipice.
On the second and last day of the G7 summit Ukraine is again expected to dominate the talks, with Europe’s gas dependency and energy security, climate change, an ambitious EU-US trade pact and the global economy also high on the agenda.
 


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US-Russia relations

G7 warns Russia to curb Ukraine unrest or face more sanctions 

G7 heads of state attend a group photo during the second day of the G7 meeting in Brussels. Photo: AP

A banner with the logo of the G7 Brussels 2014 summit and European countries' flags at the entrance of the EU Council headquarters in Brussels, Belgium on Wednesday. Photo: EPA

<a href="https://www.scmp.com/sites/default/files/2014/06/05/_yh01_43367733.jpg" title="G7 leaders meet at European Council headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters" class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" rel="gallery-all"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/486w/public/2014/06/05/_yh01_43367733.jpg?itok=QJH9XBip" alt="" title="G7 leaders meet at European Council headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters" class="caption image-486w" /></a>G7 leaders meet at European Council headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters

Russia's President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting in the Kremlin in in the Russian Caspian Sea port of Astrakhan on Wednesday. Photo: AFP

Obama tells Poroshenko that US 'absolutely committed' to Ukraine’s future 

President Barack Obama told Ukraine’s president-elect Petro Poroshenko that the US was committed to his country in the long term. Photo: Reuters

Ukrainian army paratroopers patrol an area after a battle with pro-Russian insurgents close to Slovyansk. Photo: AP

G7 can play pivotal role in bolstering security in Ukraine

Poroshenko is confirmed as winner of Ukraine presidential elections. Photo: EPA

G7 considers new sanctions on Russia over Ukraine crisis

Ukrainian armored personal carriers roll on a road outside Slovyansk on Saturday. Photo: AP

Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk accused Russia of wanting to 'start a third world war'. Photo: AFP

A pro-Russian separatist stands guard in Slavyansk. Photo: AFP

The US and EU earlier targeted President Putin’s inner circle with sanctions and  the G7 on Saturday agreed to extend them. Photo: AFP

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Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev says G7 support for Ukraine ‘cynicism without limit’ 


Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday accused the Group of Seven of “cynicism” for backing Ukraine’s military operation against armed pro-Russian insurgents.


G7 warns Russia to curb Ukraine unrest or face more sanctions

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev says G7 support for Ukraine ‘cynicism without limit’

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev says G7 support for Ukraine ‘cynicism without limit’