The G7 is preparing a new package of sanctions against Russia

Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom, Liz Truss, said that in connection with the situation around Ukraine, the G7 countries are preparing a new package of sanctions against Russia.

She stated this at the Atlantic Council in Washington, Interfax-Ukraine reports.

Truss noted that the essence of sanctions is to weaken the Russian economy.

After meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, she told The Telegraph that they had discussed other sanctions they could impose. She added that it is clear that they need to 'tighten the ratchet' on the Russian President and impose further sanctions on Moscow.

"Sanctions are already having a devastating effect on the Russian economy," she said, adding that the restrictions "reduce the funding of the Russian military machine." But the West "needs to do more."

According to her, it is time to 'end the strategic dependence which puts our economies and security at the mercy of malign actors', including dependence on Russian energy.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has already promised to cut imports of Russian oil and gas by the end of this year as part of anti-Russian sanctions. Truss said, 'We should also be exploring other possible areas of dependence.'

She said: 'Whether it's minerals or rare earth metals, we should work to prevent future problems before they emerge.'