On the second day of the G7 summit in Bavaria, the participants mainly want to cope with the impending famine. The situation in Ukraine is also given space. Local President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who this weekend again called for more military aid for his country, will be video linked to the deliberations in the morning. On Sunday, the G7 countries had already emphasized that they want to act together against the war.
“Because this is a question that concerns all of us in democracies. The autocrats of this world are watching closely what is happening – and it is all the more important that we, as democracies, support brave Ukraine,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in an ARD interview on Sunday. An import ban on Russian gold was already announced at the G7 summit in Schloss Elmau (Bavaria).
In his daily video address on Monday evening, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy again called for more military aid. “We need a powerful air defense – modern, fully effective,” he said. Any delay in arms deliveries to Ukraine is an “invitation to Russia to continue on strike.” The G7 nations, which include Germany, the United States, Canada, Britain, France, Italy and Japan, together have enough potential to “stop the Russian’s aggression against Ukraine and Europe.” The phase of the war is currently difficult, with Russian troops taking the city of Sievjerodonetsk.
climate crisis and famine
After the talks with Selenskyj, German Chancellor and host Olaf Scholz wants to meet the heads of state and government from India, Indonesia, South Africa, Senegal and Argentina. The larger group wants to talk about the climate crisis, health and the threat of famine. According to the World Food Programme, 50 million people around the world are on the brink of starvation, especially in Ethiopia, Nigeria, Afghanistan and Somalia. 750,000 people could starve to death. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will also participate in the deliberations on global food security.
Protest for the Ministry of Finance in Berlin
In the area of climate policy, efforts should be made to achieve greater international coordination. This is intended to avoid competitive disadvantages for countries that adhere to strict requirements. For some activists, that doesn’t go far enough. In a statement, they call for debt relief for countries in the South so they don’t have to mine fossil fuels. About 75 people occupied the entrances of the Ministry of Finance in Berlin on Monday morning. They held up signs saying ‘Global Debt = Global Crime’. Some people have also glued themselves to the building. “Like many countries in the global north, Germany has a historic responsibility for the climate crisis, in a sense a climate debt to the rest of the world (…). That’s why our protest here is just right,” said activist Kim Weier.
The G7 summit started on Sunday and will last until Tuesday. In addition to the G7 countries, there is the Group of Twenty (G20), which also includes Russia and which, according to the top participants, should continue to exist. Austria is not a member of either group.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
