Foreign ministers of the Group of Seven have repeated their call for Russia to withdraw all forces from Ukraine immediately and unconditionally.

Ukraine was a key topic for the G7 ministers on Monday on their second day of talks.

Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa told his counterparts it is important to maintain unity among the G7 and other like-minded countries amid Russia's protracted invasion.

He also stressed the significance of strengthening cooperation with the emerging and developing nations collectively known as the Global South, which often take neutral positions.

Hayashi also criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.

The ministers agreed to do more to prevent Russia from evading sanctions and obtaining weapons from third parties.

There are concerns Russia is seeking military aid from China and Middle Eastern countries.

Hayashi said, "We want to clearly show to the world that the G7 firmly rejects any unilateral attempt to change the status quo by force, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and its threat to use nuclear weapons. We want to show our commitment to safeguarding the global order based on the rule of law."

On the sidelines of the meeting, Hayashi talked with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

They agreed to continue to work closely to enhance deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-US alliance.

Hayashi and Blinken also agreed to promote Indo-Pacific Economic Framework negotiations. The initiative was launched in 2022. It covers 14 countries, including South Korea and India.