Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov indicated today, Saturday, that "the decisions made by the G7 countries during their summit in Japan aim at the dual containment of Russia and China." Lavrov reiterated, during a televised conference, Russia's claims that "the West uses Ukraine as a tool to inflict a strategic defeat on our country." The United States and its allies reject these claims, stating that they are assisting Kyiv in defending itself in an unlawful war. He said, "The task has been set in front of everyone: to defeat Russia on the battlefield, but not to stop there, rather to remove it as a geopolitical competitor."
He added, "Look at the decisions that are being discussed and made today in Hiroshima at the G7 summit, which aim at the dual containment of Russia and China." Lavrov emphasized that "the West is putting pressure on countries to cut trade and economic relations with Russia, but Moscow enjoys the support of many allies."
The G7 had previously issued a statement announcing their agreement to tighten sanctions on Moscow and reduce dependence on trade with China. The group requested Beijing to pressure Russia to stop its military aggression against Ukraine and withdraw its forces from there.
