G7 warns Russia against using chemical, biological, nuclear arms

BERLIN (AA) - The G7 group of the world's major economic powers on Thursday warned Russia against the use of weapons of mass destruction in Ukraine.

"We warn against any threat of the use of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons or related materials," the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the US said in a joint statement following a meeting in Brussels.

"We recall Russia's obligations under the international treaties to which it is a signatory," they stressed.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the current chair of the G7 group, told reporters after the meeting that Western nations are concerned that Russia could stage "false flag" operations using such weapons.

"Russia is repeatedly claiming that Ukraine is developing biological and chemical weapons, or saying others are doing it there. None of these are true," he said.

"But, one has to take them into consideration, make preparations against potential false flag operations," he added.

In their joint statement, the leaders of the G7 countries called on Russia to suspend military operations without any further delay and withdraw its forces from the entire territory of Ukraine.

The leaders vowed to fully implement the economic and financial measures already imposed on Moscow, but did not announce new sanctions on Russian oil and gas.