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Ukraine urges G7 to appropriate Russian assets, rechannel them to Kiev

Friday, 13 May 2022 6:18 PM [ Last Update: Friday, 13 May 2022 11:04 PM ]

This photo, taken in Weissenhaeuser Strand, Germany, on May 12, 2022, shows participants in a Group of Seven (G7) event. (By Reuters)

Ukraine's top diplomat has asked foreign ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) industrialized nations to appropriate Russian assets and rechannel them to Kiev for use to rebuild the conflict-stricken country.

"Canada has already done so and I have a feeling that others will reach that point sooner rather than later," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, who was guest attendee, said on the sidelines of the two-day G7 foreign ministers meeting in the northern German resort of Weissenhaus on Friday.

Addressing reporters at the meeting, which in addition to host Germany included diplomats from Canada, France, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the US, as well as another guest attendee Moldovan, Foreign Minister Nicu Popescu, Kuleba called on the G7 countries to appropriate billions of dollars' worth of Russian assets and hand them over to Kiev to spend on reconstruction. "We are talking about hundreds of billions of dollars. Russia must pay."

This handout picture, taken in September 2021 and provided by Nord Stream 2 AG, shows specialists on the laybarge Fortuna performing an above-water tie-in during the final stage of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline construction in the Baltic Sea. (Via AFP)

Kuleba said he also hoped that Hungary would agree with the other EU members' plan to ban Russian oil.

The EU plans to phase out Russian oil within six months.

Day 72: Hungary says EU ban on Russian oil crosses 'red line'

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has blasted European Commission Chief Ursula von der Leyen for "attacking" EU unity with a proposed Russian oil ban, saying it crosses a red line.

The plan has met opposition from Hungary.

"If, if, theoretically, Hungary opts out and does not support the package, I believe it will cause a lot of damage on the European Union itself, and therefore, they have to do their utmost to prevent it from happening," Kuleba said.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed confidence that despite all efforts by the West, the country's military offensive in Ukraine will achieve its intended objectives.

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