Sullivan: G7 Leaders to 'Engage' with Zelensky at Japan Summit

The White House announced that the leaders of the G7 will 'engage' with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during their summit, which is set to take place for three days in Hiroshima starting this Friday. Jake Sullivan, the U.S. National Security Advisor, told reporters on the plane carrying the U.S. President to Japan, 'We expect to see some form of engagement between G7 leaders and Zelensky, but the nature of that engagement is still under review.' He stated that the United States is considering a sanctions package related to the G7's statement against Russia. Reuters reported this week, citing 'informed officials,' that the G7 leaders intend to intensify sanctions against Russia at the Japan summit and take targeted steps regarding energy and trade sanctions against Russia. The Biden administration had previously pressured G7 allies to reverse the group's sanctions approach, which currently allows all goods to be sold to Russia unless explicitly blacklisted. This change could make it more difficult for Moscow to evade the sanctions regime. The G7 includes the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Canada, Japan, and Italy. The U.S. and the European Union are countering China's 'non-market practices.' The G7 leaders will impose sanctions on Russia's energy and trade sectors and have expressed concern about the 'risk of illegal financial transactions' involving Iran. The plan to reduce economic reliance on China has received support from EU ministers.