G7 foreign ministers reject sanctions on Russia after Syria chemical attack

G7 foreign ministers have rejected a UK push to impose new sanctions on Russia in response to this month’s chemical attack by the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad.

At the end of the meeting in Lucca, Italy, Angelino Alfano, the host of the meeting and Italian foreign minister, said there was “no consensus” within the group for new sanctions.

British foreign secretary Boris Johnson had floated new sanctions heading into the meeting on Monday, saying they should target Russian military officers who had worked with the Syrian regime.

But other EU powers, including Italy, warned new measures could be counterproductive and hurt efforts to press Moscow to bring Mr Assad back to the negotiating table.

Image via AP