War in Ukraine: G7 summit begins with new sanctions against Russia and a call for unity

The leaders of the G7 countries set the tone of their summit, meeting in Bavaria and largely devoted to the war in Ukraine, by announcing on Sunday to extend the sanctions against Moscow and by launching a call for unity.

 

This is the first signal of support for Ukraine of this meeting that began at midday, in the sumptuous setting of the Bavarian Alps. Together, the G7 will announce that we will ban Russian gold, a major export source, which will deprive Russia of billions of dollars, tweeted U.S. President Joe Biden.

 

The seven major powers (France, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States) will formalize their commitment at the end of the meeting on Tuesday, but Washington, London, Ottawa and Tokyo have already joined in.

 

This embargo on newly mined gold in Russia, without targeting that already sold, will hit directly the Russian oligarchs and attack the heart of Putin's war machine, said British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

 

Faced with a risk of  fatigue, mentioned by Boris Johnson, of the Western camp, the U.S. president launched a new appeal for unity of the G7 and NATO against Moscow.

 

Vladimir Putin hoped that somehow Nato and the G7 would split. But we have not done so and we will not do so, Biden said before a meeting with Olaf Scholz.

 

Host of the summit, the German Chancellor also praised the unity of the allies, which Putin did not expect, calling on each country to share the responsibility to face the growing challenges of this conflict that is taking hold.

  

Joe Biden also wants to demonstrate to his allies that standing up to Russia and confronting China are complementary, not opposing, objectives. The G7 wants to counter China and its New Silk Roads by investing massively in the infrastructure of disadvantaged countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. A project on which the leaders will take stock on Sunday.