G7 rejects Boris Johnson’s call for sanctions against Russia after Syrian ‘chemical attack’

Foreign ministers at the G7 have rejected Boris Johnson’s call for targeted sanctions against senior Russian and Syrian figures after last week’s chemical weapons incident.

The Foreign Secretary said this week that there was “wide degree of acceptance” that sanctions could be needed if an international investigation confirmed the Syrian regime was behind the chemical weapons attack.

He told reporters in Italy: “After that of course if we can find people whether they are Syrian or Russian associated with the Syrian military it is in my view entirely appropriate that they should face sanctions.”

However, the G7 group said there must be an investigation into last week’s chemical weapons incident in a rebel-held town before new measures could be adopted, according to a UK Government source.

The source insisted the option of sanctions remained on the table, but the outcome will come as a disappointment to the Government, which had hoped to strengthen the hand of US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson as he prepares to confront the Russians over their support for Syria.

The Government had hoped that by targeting sanctions against military figures, they would overcome German and Italian objections to the adoption of wider measures against Russia and Syria.

MORE: Syrian government denies using chemical weapons to slaughter its own people
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Earlier, Theresa May and US President Donald Trump agreed in a telephone call that there was a “window of opportunity” to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to abandon his Syrian ally when Mr Tillerson travels to Moscow.

Syria has denied it carried out the chemical attack on the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun last week that killed 89 people.

Top pic: Rex