Leaders from seven of the world’s wealthiest nations are convening in Italy for a critical summit, where a key focus will be a US proposal to use frozen Russian assets to raise substantial funds for Ukraine.
The plan, which could generate $50 billion (£39 billion) annually, aims to bolster Ukraine’s finances and exert additional economic pressure on Russia.
The extensive summit agenda will cover pressing issues such as the war in Gaza, migration, economic security, and the regulation of artificial intelligence (AI).
The meeting comes at a politically sensitive time for several attendees, including British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, French President Emmanuel Macron, and US President Joe Biden, all of whom face significant electoral challenges in their respective countries.
Prime Minister Sunak is reportedly trailing in the polls ahead of next month’s general election in the UK. Similarly, President Macron’s party is facing an imminent parliamentary election after a defeat to the far-right National Rally in recent European Parliament elections. President Biden, alongside Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, is also preparing for potentially difficult elections.
Contrastingly, Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni enters the summit with confidence, boasting of her government’s strength following a successful performance in the European elections.
The US proposal for Ukraine involves granting Kyiv a loan secured by the interest on $325 billion of Russian assets frozen by the G7 and the EU following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. While international law prohibits confiscating these assets and transferring them to Ukraine, this plan could provide a crucial financial lifeline to the embattled nation. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to attend the summit and will sign a new security arrangement with the US.
President Biden, amidst his own electoral battle, is under pressure to demonstrate continued support for Ukraine. Prime Minister Sunak is expected to announce up to $309 million in aid for Ukraine’s energy and humanitarian needs. Before departing for Puglia, he emphasised the need for “decisive and creative efforts to support Ukraine and end [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s illegal war at this critical moment.”
Despite the high stakes, some experts remain skeptical about the summit’s potential achievements. Natalie Tocci, director of the Italian Institute for International Affairs, cautioned that the fear of catastrophic political shifts, such as potential new governments led by Donald Trump in the US or the far-right in France, could overshadow the discussions.
Additionally, the summit will address the climate crisis, migration from Africa to Europe, and AI. Pope Francis, marking a historic first as the pontiff to attend a G7 summit, will speak on the ethical implications of AI. He has previously advocated for global regulations to mitigate the technology’s potential threats to human rights and ethics.
As the G7 leaders gather in Italy, the outcomes of their discussions could have profound implications for global politics, economic stability, and international relations in the coming months.
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