Douglas Alexander MP, Labour’s Shadow Foreign Secretary, responding to the G7 statement on Ukraine, said:

“After signing the Geneva accord earlier this month, Russia has since failed to act on its commitments within the agreement, and has taken no public steps to help deescalate the situation in eastern Ukraine.

"Given Russia’s continued actions, the G7 is right to now prepare broader sectoral measures in order to increase the economic and financial cost to Russia of its actions to support the destabilisation of eastern Ukraine. As a set of specific measures are outlined in the days ahead, the UK Government should ensure that those further steps are coordinated effectively by EU and G7 countries.

"The priority now must be avoiding an escalation in the region and securing conditions in which upcoming Presidential elections in Ukraine can take place without the risk of further violence.”

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