Crowded shopping centre hit by Russian strike - 13 dead

ReutersCopyright: Reuters

In a joint press release, US President Joe Biden and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen have accused Russia of continuing "to use natural gas as a political and economic weapon", citing the "politically-motivated disruption" to gas supplies to several EU member states as just one example of Russia's aggression.

The statement said Russia's actions had only underscored the need for the EU to end its reliance on Russian gas, and further motivated all parties to find ways of reducing Russia's "energy-derived revenues" - which is funding the "unprovoked war in Ukraine".

"These actions are important, necessary, and immediate steps we can take, but we also recognise the enormity of the challenge is significant," the joint statement read.

G7 leaders have demanded that Moscow allow Ukrainians taken to Russia against their will to return home.

"We demand that Russia immediately allow the safe return of Ukrainian nationals taken, often with force, to Russia without their consent," G7 leaders said in a statement from a summit in Germany.

It follows renewed pleas for support from Ukrainian President Zelensky, who earlier addressed the leaders by video-link.

Zelensky told the G7 that "now's not the time for negotiations", AFP reports

The G7 leaders have told Russia it must allow free passage of food from Ukraine

In a joint statement, the leaders said: "We urgently call on Russia to cease, without condition, its attacks on agricultural and transport infrastructure and enable free passage of agricultural shipping from Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea."

They also expressed "serious concern" over Russia's plans to deliver missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads to Belarus in the coming months.

"We urge Russia to behave responsibly and exercise restraint," they said.

Following President Zelensky's address to the G7 summit, leaders have issued a joint statement promising their ongoing support for Ukraine.

"We will continue to provide financial, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support and stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes," they said.

"As we do so, we commit to demonstrating global responsibility and solidarity through working to address the international impacts of Russia's aggression, especially on the most vulnerable."

We'll be bringing you more from the meeting as we have it.

TelegramCopyright: Telegram

President Zelensky shared images on Telegram of his address to the G7 summit and thanked the leaders for supporting Ukraine.

He says sanctions should "continue to be strengthened" and backs the idea of a price cap on oil exported by Russia.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says G7 leaders are staying united in their position to support Ukraine, while being careful not to worsen the conflict.

Scholz says the policies of G7 countries are "very much aligned".

“We are discussing all the topics that are on the agenda, especially staying united in supporting Ukraine against the Russian aggression and we understood that the policies of all our countries are very much aligned," he says.

Scholz adds the leaders are "taking tough decisions" to help Ukraine, while avoiding "a big conflict between Russia and Nato".

As the G7 leaders sat down for their first meeting yesterday, they started to make fun of Russian leader Vladimir Putin's so-called macho image.

As we reported earlier, Russia is said to have defaulted on its debt.

But the Kremlin has rejected the claims: "There are no grounds to call this situation a default," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

Peskov said Russia made bond payments due in May, but the fact they had been blocked by Euroclear - a bank which then distributes the payment to international creditors - because of Western sanctions on Russia was "not our problem".

President Zelensky urged G7 leaders to "not lower the pressure" and keep heaping "heavy" punitive action on Russia, AFP reports.

Zelensky earlier addressed the leaders by video-link, on the second day of the three-day G7 summit.

He renewed his plea for more heavy weapons and air defence equipment to resist Russia's continued missile attacks.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says the G7 will "continue to increase pressure on Putin".

ReutersCopyright: Reuters

Germany and the EU have both indicated they are not ruling out attending the G20 summit in November, despite an invitation also being extended by host Indonesia to Russia's President Vladimir Putin.

Germany would "not torpedo" the G20's work, Scholz has told ZDF television this morning, according to AFP reports.

Speaking from the G7 summit in Bavaria where he is the host, the German chancellor says the developed and developing economies that make up the G20 continue to play a "big role" and co-operation is key.

He says he'll make a final decision on whether to attend the summit later this year "shortly before departure".

His thoughts have been echoed by European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen who also doesn't rule out sitting down with Putin in November.

"It is also important to tell him to his face what we think of him," she says. "And we must carefully consider whether we want to paralyse the whole G20."

Indonesia has refused to block Russian leader from attending despite global criticism of his invasion of Ukraine - but, as Scholz notes, the G20 host has also extended an invitation to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Ukrainian President Zelensky has told the G7 that he wanted Russia's war in Ukraine to end before the winter sets in, according to Reuters.

Zelensky said battle conditions would make it tougher for his troops as they mount their fightback, and urged the G7 leaders to do the maximum to end the war by year's end, a source told AFP.

Zelensky addressed the G7 leaders via video link at a summit at Elmau Castle in Kruen, Germany, where he asked for reconstruction aid, anti-aircraft defence systems, help on grain exports and security guarantees.

He also asked the leaders to "intensify sanctions" against Russia.

G7 leaders in Germany have been examining what new sanctions they could impose on Russia to cripple President Vladimir Putin's war effort.

The aim is to convince Vladimir Putin of the West’s resolve, says the BBC's diplomatic correspondent James Landale.

Gold

On Sunday, the UK, US, Canada and Japan said they would ban imports of Russian gold to hit Moscow's ability to fund the war in Ukraine.

US President Joe Biden suggested the other G7 nations - Germany, France and Italy - would also join the ban.

Gold exports were worth £12.6bn ($15.4bn) to Russia in 2021, and the UK says their importance has increased since the invasion as oligarchs rush to buy bullion to avoid sanctions.

Oil

The G7 is also finalising plans for a price cap on Russian oil, a senior US official is reported as saying on Monday.

"We're still in final discussions with other G7 counterparts working to finalise this, but we're very close to a place where G7 leaders will have decided to urgently direct relevant ministers to develop mechanisms to set a global price cap for Russian oil," the official is quoted as saying by the AFP news agency.

This aims is to starve the Kremlin of its "main source of cash and force down the price of Russian oil".

Defence

The US also announced new sanctions targeting Russia's defence sector, AFP reports.

"G7 leaders will align and expand targeted sanctions to further restrict Russia's access" to Western technology that can support the Russian arms industry, the White House says.

And the US will also "aggressively target Russian defence supply chains... and limit Russia's ability to replace the military equipment it has already lost during its brutal war".

Tariffs

G7 leaders have also reportedly agreed money collected from higher trade tariffs imposed on Russian exports should be given as aid to Ukraine, the White House is quoted as saying by AFP.

G7 leaders "will seek authority to use revenues collected by any new tariffs on Russian goods to help Ukraine and to ensure that Russia pays for the cost of its war," a senior US official said.

• Read more about what sanctions have already been imposed on Russia here.

President Zelensky has finished addressing the G7 leaders.

We'll bring you the latest updates as soon as we have them.

NUR via Getty ImagesCopyright: NUR via Getty Images

We're waiting for updates on Zelensky's address to the G7. But what is the G7 and what can it do to help?

The G7 (Group of Seven) is an organisation of the world's seven richest nations - Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the United States.

Their so-called "advanced" economies dominate global trade and the international financial system.

Between them, the G7 nations have already hit Russia with the biggest package of sanctions ever imposed on a large economy.

They've blocked the country from international commerce and the global financial system - and frozen the assets of its wealthiest individuals.

G7 countries who are also members of Nato have also given weapons and other military equipment to Ukraine.

But Zelensky has already been calling for tougher action, such as a complete ban on Russian gas and oil.

Will the leaders listen?

As we've been reporting, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is addressing the G7 at a summit in Germany.

While we wait for an update, a European official has told Reuters President Zelensky has asked for anti-aircraft defence systems, help on grain exports and security guarantees.

Zelensky also asked for reconstruction aid and further sanctions against Russia, Reuters reports.

EPACopyright: EPA

Ukraine's President Zelensky will shortly address the leaders of the world's top industrialised nations at the G7 summit at Elmau Castle in Kruen, Germany.

He is expected to ask the leaders to step up delivery of heavy weapons and air defences as Russia's onslaught intensifies in Donbas, in the east of Ukraine - and the capital Kyiv faces renewed missile attacks.

Just before President Volodymyr Zelensky's address at the G7 summit, a number of air raid alerts were activated here in Ukraine.

Kyiv is back under air raid alert along with some northern and western parts of the country.

It comes after a number of missile strikes in the country on Sunday. Here in Kyiv, one person was killed and six injured after an attack on an apartment block yesterday.

We've been hearing more from UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Speaking at the G7 summit in Germany, Johnson praises the "amazing consistency" of the G7's support for Ukraine, and says the G7 "have to continue to help the Ukrainians" to rebuild and protect themselves.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will address G7 leaders at the summit in Germany in the next few minutes.

He is expected to renew his appeal for more heavy weapons and air defences when he speaks to leaders by video link.

We'll bring you updates as soon as we know what he's said.