G7 leaders at the bedside of Ukraine
The leaders of the G7 countries are meeting in the mountains of southern Germany from Sunday, at the bedside of a world in crisis, from the war in Ukraine to food security and the climate.
The leaders of the great powers, including the American president, Joe Biden, have an appointment this Sunday morning in the Bavarian Alps, for the annual summit of the club of the seven industrialized countries (Germany, Canada, France, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom and United States).
Thousands of police are mobilized to secure the meeting, scheduled until Tuesday in a luxury complex at the foot of the peaks. On Saturday, a hundred kilometers away, thousands of demonstrators marched, without notable incident, in the streets of Munich to demand stronger action in favor of the climate. The enchanting setting of Elmau Castle, not far from the Austrian border, promises beautiful images of the seven leaders but will not make us forget the many current crises.
Continued support for Ukraine, where the Russian offensive is entering its fifth month, will be at the heart of this meeting and then the NATO summit, which will be held over two days in Madrid from June 28.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz, host of the G7, recalled this week: support for Ukraine will require “perseverance” because “we are still far away” peace negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow. The war in Ukraine could indeed last ” years “warned NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who will speak on Monday by videoconference, should again request the shipment of heavy weapons, after the Russians have just taken control of Sievierodonetsk (East).
Joe Biden wants to demonstrate to his allies that standing up to Russia and confronting China are complementary, not opposed, goals, according to John Kirby, White House Communications Coordinator on Strategic Issues.
The G7 summit should lead to “a set of concrete proposals to increase pressure on Russia and show our collective support for Ukraine”, assured a senior official of the White House. He did not detail these possible measures while several aspects of sanctions have already been decided by the West against the regime of Vladimir Putin.