The G7 countries – Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America – on Saturday issued a joint statement expressing concern about Russia’s “threatening” troop build-up around Ukraine and urged Moscow to resort to diplomacy instead of military might.

“We call on Russia to choose the path of diplomacy, to de-escalate tensions, to substantively withdraw military forces from the proximity of Ukraine’s borders and to fully abide by international commitments including on risk reduction and transparency of military activities,” read the statement, shared on the website of the US Department of State.

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“As a first step, we expect Russia to implement the announced reduction of its military activities along Ukraine’s borders. We have seen no evidence of this reduction. We will judge Russia by its deeds,” the statement added, highlighting the West’s suspicions about Russia’s claims of a troop withdrawal.

The G7 countries also went on to warn Moscow about the consequences of military action against Ukraine, saying, “Any threat or use of force against the territorial integrity and sovereignty of states goes against the fundamental principles that underpin the rules-based international order as well as the European peace and security order enshrined in the Helsinki Final Act, the Paris Charter and other subsequent OSCE declarations.”

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“While we are ready to explore diplomatic solutions to address legitimate security concerns, Russia should be in no doubt that any further military aggression against Ukraine will have massive consequences, including financial and economic sanctions on a wide array of sectoral and individual targets that would impose severe and unprecedented costs on the Russian economy. We will take coordinated restrictive measures in case of such an event,” they further warned.

The G7 countries also addressed concerns surrounding the activities of Russia-backed separatists in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, saying, “We are particularly worried by measures taken by the self-proclaimed “People’s Republics” which must be seen as laying the ground for military escalation. We are concerned that staged incidents could be used as a pretext for possible military escalation.”

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“Russia must use its influence over the self-proclaimed republics to exercise restraint and de-escalate,” the countries further urged Russia.

The statement comes amid escalating tensions in Ukraine, with more than 100,000 Russian troops reportedly posted along its borders. A day earlier, pro-Russia rebels in the Donbas region announced a massive evacuation citing Ukrainian aggression, while explosions rocked Donetsk and Luhansk, further increasing fears of a Russian invasion.

Russia, however, claims its troops were in Crimea because of a military exercise and has said that it has no plans to invade its neighbour. Moscow has also accused the West of running a disinformation campaign to create hysteria.