G7 Leaders Warn Russia Of Fresh Sanctions Over Ukraine

A joint statement condemned Moscow for its continuing violation of Ukraine's sovereignty

The summit is the first since Russia was expelled from the G7 , following its annexation of Crimea in March

Earlier in Poland U.S. President Barakk Obama warned Moscow against what he calls its "dark tactics"in Ukraine

Mr. Obama is on a three state European tour ending with the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings in France on Friday , Russian President Putin will also be at the ceremony

Although President Putin is not attending the Brussels summit , he will hold facce to face talks with some G7 leaders , not including President Obama , in Paris afterwards

G7 leaders gatrhered in Brussels on Wednesday evening for the summits opening dinner

"We stand ready to intensify targeted sanctions and to consider meaningful additional restrictive measures to impose further costs on Russia shouls events so require"

'We have made it clear that we want to continue with our three step approch , support Ukraine in economic issues , talks with Russia and should there be no progress on all     those issues the possibility of sanctions , tougher sanctions , remains on the table"

The summit originally was to have been held in the Russian city of Sochi

Mr. Putin told French T.V. he was "not going to avoid any of them ", but said Mr.Poroshenko needed to be serious about a dialogue with factions in Eastern Ukraine

"I think Mr.Poroshenko has a unique oppertunity , he still does'nt have blood on his hands , he still can stop this reprisal operations and start a direct dialogue with citizens of the South and East of his country " Putin said