OTTAWA/KYIV - The Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers concluded their two-day meeting on Wednesday, issuing a joint statement that addressed the Ukraine crisis and the situation in the Middle East, along with several other topics.
The meeting, held under Canada's presidency, was also attended by foreign ministers from Brazil, India, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, South Korea, South Africa and Ukraine.
On the Ukraine crisis, the G7 ministers said an "immediate ceasefire is urgently needed," noting that they "agreed that the current line of contact should be the starting point of negotiations."
Regarding the Middle East, the ministers welcomed the recent ceasefire and release of hostages, and called for increased flows of humanitarian aid. On the Iran nuclear issue, they urged Iran to resume full cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency.
They also discussed the situations in Haiti, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as maritime security, critical minerals, economic resilience and energy security.
Sanctions against Russia
Canada on Wednesday imposed a new round of sanctions against Russia, targeting individuals and entities linked to the energy sector, military capabilities and cyber infrastructure.
Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand announced in a news release that the measures target 13 individuals and 11 entities under the country's Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations.
According to the release, the measures focus on degrading Russia's conventional and hybrid military capabilities while also hitting its energy revenues and financial enablers. Among those targeted are several individuals and entities involved in Russia's drone program.
The measures also mark the first time Canada has sanctioned entities that supply cyber infrastructure allegedly used in Russian hybrid strategies against Ukraine, it said.
Additionally, the sanctions list several Russian liquefied natural gas entities, as well as 100 vessels described as part of "Russia's shadow fleet."
The release stated that these actions were taken in broad alignment with recent sanctions announced by the United States, the EU and the UK, and support ongoing efforts by the G7 to exert economic pressure on Russia.
So far, Russia has not commented on the Canadian move.
Corruption probe
Separately, the Ukrainian government suspended Justice Minister German Galushchenko on Wednesday amid a corruption probe in the energy sector, according to the prime minister.
In an extraordinary meeting, Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said Galushchenko's duties have been assigned to Lyudmila Sugak, deputy justice minister for European integration, without disclosing the reasons for his suspension.
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Earlier, the Justice Ministry's press service reported that investigations into Galushchenko have been conducted as part of criminal proceedings.
"The minister provides full assistance to law enforcement agencies to ensure a comprehensive, objective and impartial investigation," the ministry said, noting that it adheres to the principle of zero tolerance for corruption.
Earlier this week, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau announced it had conducted an operation targeting corruption in the energy sector, particularly within the state-run nuclear energy operator Energoatom.
According to the bureau, investigators uncovered a "high-level criminal organization" operating in the energy sector that allegedly involved present and former energy sector officials and a well-known businessman.
Galushchenko served as energy minister between April 2021 and July 2025.
Citing a law enforcement source, the government-run Ukrinform news agency reported that anti-corruption agents searched Galushchenko's residence in connection with the case.
