Rwandan state minister for foreign affairs, James Kabarebe, said international sanctions against the country will reduce the incentive for Kinshasa to engage in peace talks with M23 rebels who have made lightning advances in eastern Congo this year.

Rwanda has said international sanctions will reduce the likelihood of peace with M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), after the United Kingdom said it would pause some bilateral aid and impose other diplomatic sanctions on Kigali.

The UK says it will also suspend future defense training assistance and demands that Kigali withdraw its troops from Congo.

The UK will soon impose sanctions on Rwanda over its alleged support for the M23 rebel group, which has seized territory in eastern Congo, including key cities and mineral-rich areas. Britain will introduce sanctions soon against Rwanda over fighting in neighbouring Congo, a minister in the UK Foreign Office told Reuters on Monday.

The UK has paused some aid to Rwanda and imposed diplomatic sanctions over its alleged support of the M23 group in Congo's conflict. While Rwanda denies backing the group, the UK demands a withdrawal of Rwandan troops from Congo and encourages dialogue as a political solution.

"As they push for sanctions against Rwanda, (Congo's president), seeing that Rwanda is being targeted, will refuse to participate in any negotiations," James Kabarebe, a Rwandan state minister for foreign affairs, said in a speech on Tuesday.

Britain is set to impose sanctions on Rwanda in response to the ongoing conflict in neighbouring Congo, according to a UK Foreign Office minister. ・UK is preparing to impose sanctions on Rwanda due to the conflict in Congo.