Press
At the G7 summit in Italy, two men who are not even there are playing an important role. Instead, Volodymyr Zelenskyj is there – and has been promised a lot of money.
Bari – The path from the G7 summit to peace, international understanding and even to Vladimir Putin would not be far at all. The heads of state and government of the group of seven would only have to leave their luxury hotel on the Italian Adriatic coast and get in a car for 20 minutes. In Bari, the nearest larger city, in front of the church of San Nicola there is a Russian gift from 2003: a monument to Saint Nicholas, next to it a bronze plaque donated by Putin with a commitment to peace and cooperation.
The world situation was different 20 years ago. Now we know what to make of Putin’s words. Some people have tried to scratch his name off the board, but to no avail. The seven are in a similar situation. The Kremlin chief has not been part of the G7 since 2014. But somehow he is still present, like a dark shadow that lies over the summit despite the blue sky.
G7 summit in Italy: Ukrainian President Selenskyj travels to Bari
Volodymyr Zelensky, currently a regular guest at meetings of the Western community of states, was actually visiting on Thursday. The trip to Apulia was definitely worth it for the Ukrainian president. The seven put together a huge aid package for his country, which is to be financed from the interest income from frozen Russian state assets. The USA alone declared itself willing to provide the equivalent of 46 billion euros for the planned loan. This is intended to ensure that Kiev has enough money for the next few years. Zelensky thanked them most cordially.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz explained the plan as follows: “The Russian president has a very obvious plan: he wants to push his war forward until everyone else gives up supporting Ukraine. And that plan has failed today.” The 50 billion will enable Kiev to finance everything that is necessary militarily and for reconstruction. The extent to which Berlin will participate has yet to be clarified.
Putin will almost certainly never attend another meeting of the seven. Instead, someone else could return to the group’s 50th anniversary meeting next year: Donald Trump. If the 78-year-old manages to make a comeback in the US election in November, the next G7 summit will certainly be more uncomfortable – for everyone. republicanwho turned his back on many international allies during his first term in office, makes no secret of what he intends to do: dramatically reduce or stop support for Kyiv.
G7 summit in Bari: Biden and Selenskyj sign bilateral security agreement
That is why the G7 is taking precautions, including with a lot of money. In addition, US President Biden and Zelenskyy signed a new bilateral security agreement for ten years on Thursday evening. Kyiv has already concluded such agreements with more than a dozen countries, including Germany.
While the G7 leaders are sprinting to establish facts ahead of a possible Trump comeback, Putin is playing for time. He will probably be pleased to see how weakened most G7 leaders are in their own countries. In addition, the seven have been in a kind of self-discovery process for many years. It is obvious that they have lost importance with the rise of countries such as China, India and Brazil. This is also why the heads of state and government from a dozen other countries have been invited as guests today. “The G7 is not a closed fortress that may have to defend itself against someone,” said host Giorgia Meloni recently.
G7 summit in Italy: Meloni shows herself as a radiant leader, Pope Francis arrives
Despite all the seriousness, the summit is also her stage: Meloni uses the opportunity to show the world that she is a shining leader. She takes selfies with photographers, flirts, shakes countless hands – the clear victory in the European elections has given her a boost. In the past few days, she has often said how proud she is that her government is the strongest in Europe and among the G7. That was a little uncharming towards the others, but certainly not wrong. Yesterday, she solemnly announced that there would be a joint final declaration on the first day.
For the first time in almost half a century of G7, a Pope will be present today: Francis will arrive by helicopter from Rome to Artificial intelligence to speak. Perhaps he will also take the opportunity to say something to high-level politicians about war and peace. Perhaps he will even give the G7 his blessing and encouragement. (Christian Deutschländer)
#Putin #Trumps #shadows #hang #summit