G7 leaders pledge further economic isolation of Russia

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Group of Seven leaders said in a joint assertion on Sunday that they will fortify Russia’s financial isolation and “elevate” a marketing campaign in opposition to Russian elites who help President Vladimir Putin.

Soon after meeting virtually with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the leaders stated they would lower off important services on which Russia is dependent, reinforcing the isolation of Russia “across all sectors of its economy.”

They also committed to phasing out dependency on Russian power, including by banning imports of Russian oil.

“(W)e will proceed and elevate our campaign in opposition to the economic elites and spouse and children users, who assist President Putin in his war effort and squander the methods of the Russian individuals,” the assertion additional.

The United States on Sunday unveiled sanctions against a few Russian tv stations, banned Us residents from offering accounting and consulting companies to Russians, and sanctioned executives from Gazprombank to punish Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine.

Putin calls the invasion a “unique armed service procedure” to disarm Ukraine and rid it of anti-Russian nationalism fomented by the West. Ukraine and its allies say Russia released an unprovoked war.

(Reporting by Simon Lewis Enhancing by Lisa Shumaker)