Biden at G7 Summit: "Putin Wants to Divide the West... That Will Not Happen"

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] On the 26th (local time), U.S. President Joe Biden visited Germany to attend the Group of Seven (G7) summit and stated, "Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, hoped in any way that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the G7 would be divided, but we were not, and we will not be in the future."

According to AFP and other sources, President Biden made these remarks during a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Elmau Castle, Bavaria, Germany, ahead of the G7 summit. He promised unwavering support for Ukraine in the face of Russia, saying, "We must stand together."

President Biden also highly praised Chancellor Scholz, who is the chair of this G7 summit, mentioning that "Europe's actions regarding the Ukraine situation have been greatly influenced by his leadership."

Regarding the meeting, a senior official from the Biden administration told AFP, "It was a good opportunity to reaffirm the deep and enduring relationship between the two countries."

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron also met at the G7 summit venue on the same day and agreed to strengthen support for Ukraine. A spokesperson for Prime Minister Johnson stated in a press release, "The two leaders agreed that this is a decisive time during the war in Ukraine and an opportunity to change the course of the war," adding, "(The two leaders) emphasized the need to strengthen support for Ukraine."

Ukraine also called on the G7 leaders for active support and additional sanctions. Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine's Minister of Foreign Affairs, urged on Twitter, "The G7 summit must impose more sanctions on Russia and provide stronger weapons to Ukraine. We must defeat Russia's sick imperialism."

The G7 summit is a consultative body composed of the heads of state of the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, and Japan. The host country, Germany, invited the leaders of India, Indonesia, Argentina, South Africa, and Senegal to this summit. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is also scheduled to meet with the G7 leaders via video conference upon Chancellor Scholz's invitation.