G7 tells Russia to stop 'Annexation' of Crimea

G7 tells Russia to stop 'Annexation' of Crimea

A statement from the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Britain and the United States, along with the European Council and the European Commission, said "further action, individually and collectively," will be taken against Russia if it proceeds with what it called the "annexation" of Crimea.

They said Russia's actions in Ukraine were incompatible with its role in the G8, which it joined in 1997 as Moscow returned to the world stage with great fanfare after the fall of Communism.

The statement did not elaborate on the nature of the action Russia was facing, but earlier Wednesday, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso told the European Parliament in Strasbourg that such action would have "far-reaching" effects.

"Together with other G7 leaders, Van Rompuy and myself have strongly and unequivocally condemned this action on behalf of the EU," Barroso said.

G7 leaders, European Council head Hermann Van Rompuy "and I will in a new declaration call on Russia to cease all efforts to annex Ukraine's autonomous republic of Crimea," Barroso said in a tweeted message.

Barroso said the referendum was illegal and called for immediate steps to de-escalate the situation.

"Any attempt to legitimise a referendum in Crimea is contrary to the Ukrainian constitution and international law and quite clearly illegal," he said "If meaningful negotiations do not begin within the next few days and produce results within a limited timeframe, this will trigger additional measures," he added.

 Barroso also said the 28-nation bloc will discuss next week an additional $1.39 billion in assistance for Ukraine. The G7 announcement is made as Ukraine interim prime minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk heads for talks with US President Barack Obama, with the pressure for more sanctions against Moscow mounting. Ukraine's acting President Oleksandr Turchynov said Russia has refused "all contacts at the foreign ministry and top government level" with Ukraine and is "rejecting a diplomatic solution to the conflict."