G7 summit focused on Ukraine aid, China's support for Russia

U.S. President Joe Biden departed for Italy on Wednesday (June12) for meetings with Group of Seven leaders aimed at increasing pressure on Russia over its war against Ukraine and China for its support of Moscow and excess industrial capacity.

 

The G7 leaders arrive at the summit confronting myriad woes at home even as they seek solutions for many of the world's most pressing problems.

 

Biden, 81, spent Tuesday evening at his home in Wilmington, Delaware, after a 12-member jury convicted his son Hunter Biden of lying about his drug use to illegally buy a gun in 2018, making him the first child of a sitting U.S. president to be convicted of a crime.

 

The heads of the world's most developed democracies will address multiple challenges during the June 13-15 meeting, including wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, trade imbalances with China, threats posed by artificial intelligence and development challenges in Africa.

 

The leaders will announce new sanctions and export controls against Russia that target entities and networks helping President Vladimir Putin's forces fight the war in Ukraine, White House spokesperson John Kirby said on Tuesday.

 

Shoring up funding for Ukraine will be a top priority at the G7 meeting, with U.S. and European officials eager to lock in solutions, ahead of a possible Trump re-election and the uncertainty it would raise over future U.S. support for Kyiv