From the Argentine presence to the war in Ukraine: what is being talked about in the G7

The G7 summit in Munich continues, with the war in Ukraine, the contribution of weapons and defense systems to kyiv, the cost of living and the energy crisis as fundamental themes.

The “Bromance” or the reconciliation of Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron is one of the positive chapters of the summit, when Brexit and their positions on Ukraine had separated them.

Macron is finally convinced that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will only be able to sit down for negotiations with Vladimir Putin “.when I have advantages and not now”, As was his request.

The Argentine presence

The invitation to Argentina at the meeting it is much more than symbolic. When an inevitable rationing of electricity and gas in Europe for the coming winter was announced on Monday, the G7 fears that famine will spread due to the impossibility of extracting grain or planting Ukrainians, when the scarcity of derivative products is noted in the Old Continent. .

Globally, come to Argentina an essential alternative What food supplier.

“Russia bears a huge responsibility for global food insecurity,” the G7 said in a statement.

More arms to Ukraine and support

In the midst of chatter about the divisions between Western powers a ban on the import of Russian goldits second product after oil, and the “international fatigue” in the face of continued support for Ukraine, the G7 countries reaffirmed their “unwavering commitment” to support the battle of kyiv with Moscow.

“We will continue to provide financial, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support and to support Ukraine All the time needed“, said the leaders, in a statement at the summit.

They have declared that they are ready to grant, or have pledged and provided, up to $ 29.5 billion to help the country. They will continue to coordinate efforts to meet Ukraine’s needs for military and defense equipment.

G7 leaders said they were ready to agree on lasting security commitments.

They have pledged to continue the use of sanctions for as long as necessary.

The nuclear rhetoric

They reiterated the condemnation of Russia’s “unjustified use of nuclear rhetoric”. Ukraine must decide on its future peace agreement, “free from external pressure or influence,” they said, in a clear reference to pressure from some European countries, such as France, for Ukraine to negotiate now. “An unjust peace”, as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called it, to prevent it.

As for Russia’s announcement that it could transfer nuclear missiles to Belarus, they expressed “great concern”. They urged the country “to stop preventing grain exports Ukrainians “.

Born “on alert”

NATO joined on “high alert” before the attack on kiev, Vladimir Putin’s new nuclear threats and before this week’s summit in Madrid.

The G7 called for the “immediate return” of Ukrainian citizens, who were forcibly taken to Russia, without their consent. Commit to provide “safe passage” for Ukrainian citizens and to speed up immigration and visas.

Russia must stop attacks on agricultural infrastructure and stop blocking sea routes.

The G7 promises “coordinated initiatives” that promote global food security.

Zelensky’s orders

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke to the G7 on Monday. He asked them for more support for weapons, defense systems and not to prolong the war in the winter. The United States has promised to purchase and supply a Norwegian defense model, such as the one that protects the White House.

A Ukrainian government statement outlined President Zelensky’s demands for the G7. “The president stressed the importance of the decision to grant Ukraine candidate status for EU membership,” the statement read.

“This decision fully reflects our progress in European integration, our contribution to the protection of European values, which we are all talking about,” President Zelensky told his colleagues.

Ukraine was approved as an EU candidate last week following the country’s application in March. But that request will take years. Diplomats say it will take a decade or more for Ukraine to meet the criteria for EU membership.

But the president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said she was convinced that the country could act quickly to implement the necessary reforms.

The Ukrainian president asked for security guarantees for Ukraine and “stressed that these guarantees in the future will prevent conflicts, such as Russian aggression”.

Zelensky also noted that “our state needs it modern and effective missile defense systemswhich can bring peace to Ukrainian cities far from the front “, the statement continues, adding that” this is vital, amid the intensification of Russia’s missile attacks “.

He called for tougher sanctions and expressed support for plans to forcibly limit the price of Russian oil exports.

“Volodimir Zelensky expressed hope that the US State Department will support the decision to do so recognize Russia as a sponsoring state of terrorism“, Reads the press release.

The “Bromance” of the summit

The historic dispute between Great Britain and France It ended in a hug. Prime Minister Boris Johnsonn hugged him like a bear to French President Emmanuel Macron, in the middle of the summit, to put an end to a long and personal misunderstanding.

Macron considered Boris to be “irresponsible” and “speechless” during all the Brexit negotiations and the ensuing conflicts. But this time The strategy in Ukraine and the war brought them closer.

Boris Johnson has become Zelensky’s closest ally. Bring weapons, training, British special forces experience and talk to him daily. He visited Kiev twice. Macron believes that “Russia should not be humiliated”. He has been negotiating with Putin for hours, but in a never-ending conversation that, until now, gets no peace. He suggested that Ukraine should “give up” the territory.

Johnson loves history. He studied Classical History at Oxford University, is a polyglot, knows Russian and Ukrainian. With the backdrop of the Bavarian mountains, They walked and argued until they agreed, on the Ukrainian strategy. The next step is an Anglo-French summit to improve the link.

aligned

“We are 100 percent aligned,” Boris Johnson said to explain this meeting with the President of France. During a bilateral meeting, Macron and Boris came to the conclusion that a Russian direct defeat is the best solution.

If this strategy fails, Macron believes Zelensky must be put in the best position to negotiate. They agreed that a joint “surge” is needed to help Ukraine make a difference. Ammunition and artillery are essential for a country that he has no more weapons like Ukraine. They will contribute more weapons.

To reach this consensus on Ukraine, Macron and Johnson did not discuss anything that separates them: neither the migration policy on the Channel, the dispatch of refugees arriving from France to Rwanda, fishing nor the defense pact.

Boris tries in the G7 to make sure that states, under pressure from gas and oil shortages, do not pressure Ukraine to end the conflict in a serious way. Their argument is that they would give Putin “A license to manipulate” to your neighbors.

Paris, correspondent

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