G7 Condemns Putin After 60 Feared Dead in Ukraine School Bombing
As many as 60 people are feared to have been killed when a bomb struck a village school in eastern Ukraine, the regional governor said on Sunday while Russian forces continued shelling the last holdout of Ukrainian resistance in the ruined southeastern port of Mariupol.
Now in its third month, authorities in the eastern Kharkiv region were reporting more casualties of Russian shelling as the leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) industrial nations vowed on Sunday to deepen Russia’s economic isolation and “elevate” sanctions even further in their fight against Russian President Vladimir Putin and oligarchs with links to the Kremlin.
Ukraine and its Western allies have accused Russian forces of targeting civilians in the war, something that Moscow denies. But after civilian targets such as hospitals, theaters, and schools are repeatedly bombed, the Kremlin-backed propaganda that Ukraine is staging its own war is wearing very thin.
The EU institutions are lit up in the colours of the Ukrainian flag tonight to remind everyone that the EU stands with those defending our common values in the country. pic.twitter.com/zqsuIpils5
— European Parliament (@Europarl_EN) May 8, 2022
A number of Western officials, including First Lady Jill Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, have traveled to Ukraine in a show of support. A team of U.S. diplomats also arrived in Kyiv for the first time since the invasion.
On this Mother’s Day, my heart is with you, First Lady Olena Zelenska, and all of the brave and resilient mothers of Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/tCMXCXhgiY
— Jill Biden (@FLOTUS) May 8, 2022
The G7 said it was committed to phasing out or banning Russian oil and denounced President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. President Joe Biden and other G7 leaders held a video call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a show of unity ahead of Russia’s Victory Day celebrations on Monday. “His actions bring shame on Russia and the historic sacrifices of its people,” the group said in a statement, referring to Soviet Russia’s role in defeating Nazi Germany 77 years ago.
Today, I spoke with G7 Leaders and President Zelenskyy about our ironclad unity and commitment to keep strengthening Ukraine and ratcheting up the pain on Putin. pic.twitter.com/15FYYnfueS
— President Biden (@POTUS) May 8, 2022