Scene of destruction caused by conflict in Izyum, Kharkiv region, Ukraine, February 20, 2023. Photo: AFP/VNA

On Saturday, leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) chaired this year by Italy, held a videoconference, vowing to continue supporting Ukraine. Ukraine government and its people can count on the G7’s support for as long as it takes, the group said in a statement.

G7 said it will continue to increase sanctions against Russia to block Russia's financial revenues and punish individuals and entities that seek to help Russia. The statement of the leaders of the G7 countries affirmed their support for a comprehensive, fair and lasting peace in accordance with the United Nations Charter, international law and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a bilateral security agreement with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and a similar agreement with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Kyiv on Saturday. Earlier, Ukraine signed security agreements with Britain, Germany, France and Denmark.