G7 ministers urge Moscow to pressure Assad on ending civil war

LUCCA, ITALY— The Group of Seven industrialized nations on Tuesday urged Russia to pressure the Syrian government to end the six-year civil war, but rejected a British call to impose new sanctions on Moscow over its support of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Foreign ministers from the seven countries said Moscow can play a constructive role in ending the brutal conflict that has destabilized the Middle East.

“Russia can be a part of that future and play an important role,” U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said.

Or, he added, it could maintain its alliance with Syria, Iran and militant group Hezbollah, “which we believe is not going to serve Russia’s interests’ longer term.”

Ministers meeting in Lucca, Italy, strongly supported U.S. missile strikes that targeted a Syrian airbase believed to have been used to launch a deadly chemical attack last week. But they were divided about how to deal with Syria and Moscow.

Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano, who hosted the G7 gathering, said “there is no consensus for further new sanctions.”

“We must have a dialogue with Russia,” he said. “We must not push Russia into a corner.”