G7 pledges $32 billion in aid for Ukraine

Finance ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) have pledged to offer up to $32 billion next year to help Ukraine deal with protracted Russian aggression.

The ministers, who met online, said the G7 remains “firmly committed to addressing Ukraine’s urgent short-term financing needs,” according to a statement.

The $32 billion will allow kyiv to continue providing basic services, carry out the most critical repairs and stabilize the economy, the statement said, adding that the aid includes 18 billion euros ($19 billion) from the European Union.

Meanwhile, the G-7 foreign ministers criticized Russia for attacking infrastructure and energy facilities in Ukraine and agreed to increase support to help Ukrainians weather the harsh winter, as reported by Kyodo News.

Massive and deliberate attacks by Russia, with missiles and Iranian drones, “have left millions of Ukrainians in the dark and cold of winter,” according to the statement by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.

The G7 promises to “intensify” the pressure on Russia in the middle of the war against Ukraine

Germany hosted the virtual ministerial meetings before the rotating G-7 presidency passes to Japan in January. The G-7 groups Great Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, in addition to the European Union.

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi told the meeting that it is important for the G-7 to strengthen their cooperation as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine drags on, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry.

The G-7 foreign ministers also “strongly condemned” the Taliban government of Afghanistan for its recent decision to ban women from universities and urged it to retract it.

“Gender-based persecution can amount to a crime against humanity,” she said.