Elmau Castle, Germany--World leaders Monday warned Russia it would face stepped-up sanctions for its "aggression" in Ukraine, as they wrapped up a G7 meeting also pledging strong action to fight climate change.
At a luxury retreat nestled in the picture-perfect Bavarian Alps, the leaders of the most powerful countries also tackled threats to global security posed by Islamist extremism and risks to the global economy from Greece.
For the third time, Kremlin strongman Vladimir Putin was barred from the summit due to what US President Barack Obama termed his "aggression in Ukraine", as the group of seven top powers closed ranks against Russia.
"We ... stand ready to take further restrictive measures in order to increase cost on Russia should its actions so require," said the leaders in a joint communique after the two-day huddle.
"We recall that the duration of sanctions should be clearly linked to Russia's complete implementation of the Minsk agreements and respect for Ukraine's sovereignty," the leaders added, referring to a peace deal struck in the Belarus capital.
The tough line from the world's power brokers came as Ukraine's defence minister accused pro-Russian rebels -- backed by Moscow -- of deploying an army of 40,000 men on the Ukrainian border.
The force threatening Kiev was equivalent to that of a "mid-sized European state", said Stepan Poltorak.
Clashes in recent days between the Ukrainian forces and the separatists have threatened the ceasefire deal thrashed out in Minsk.
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Canada's Stephen Harper on Saturday made a point of visiting Kiev on their way to the summit, to voice support for Ukraine's embattled leaders, as a recent flare-up in fighting in the east has left at least 28 dead.
Sanctions could also be "rolled back" if Russia lived up to its commitments, the communique said.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, hosting the talks, also noted that Russia was involved in resolving several other global crises and called for their "cooperation."
AFP
