Bari, Italy, June 13 (EFE).- The G7 summit began on Thursday in the Apulia region of southern Italy, focusing on the wars in Ukraine and Gaza and $50 billion loan proposal for Kyiv using frozen Russian assets.
Leaders arrived at the luxurious and heavily guarded Borgo Egnazia hotel, where they were welcomed by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Meloni greeted leaders from the United States, France, Germany, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Japan, as well as leaders of the European Union (EU), who signed the guestbook at the resort. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is also expected to attend the meeting.
US President Joe Biden was the last to arrive at Borgo Egnazia, slightly delayed compared to his counterparts. The summit officially began at 11:30 AM (9:30 GMT) with the traditional family photo.
In addition to supporting Ukraine, with a focus on negotiating a loan worth up to $46 billion that could reach a framework agreement at the gathering, the summit will address the war in Gaza and relations with Russia and China. The three-day event will conclude on Saturday.
Shortly before the summit started, the United States announced that the G7 had made “good progress” in negotiations for the loan to Ukraine, funded by frozen Russian assets worldwide, and that a framework agreement could be reached on Thursday.
Relations with Africa, climate change, and development aid will be the focus of the first working session, which will include representatives from several African and Persian Gulf countries, as well as organizations such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, invited by the Italian presidency.
At 12:00 GMT, the leaders will welcome Zelensky, and it is expected that afterward, the Ukrainian president and Biden will hold a press conference to announce the anticipated loan agreement funded by frozen Russian assets.
Hours before the official start of the summit, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said that there would likely be a common vision on the way forward to achieve a framework agreement, with details to be agreed upon later.
“Our goal is to figure out how we bridge the remaining gaps and get to a deal,” Sullivan said, adding that discussions would continue with Qatar and Egypt, who, in turn, would work with Hamas to reach agreement as quickly as possible.
On the Middle East conflict, Sullivan said President Biden would encourage other nations to support ceasefire negotiations trying to end fighting in Gaza.
“Our goal is to figure out how we bridge the remaining gaps and get to a deal,” he said.
The day will include other events and bilateral meetings between leaders, concluding with a gala dinner hosted by Italian President Sergio Mattarella at Svevo Castle in the nearby town of Brindisi, to which they will travel by helicopter.
On Thursday, Argentine President Javier Milei, personally invited by Meloni, and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, in his capacity as the current G20 leader, are also expected to arrive. Both will participate in the summit on Friday.
The G7 will end on Saturday morning with a press conference by the host prime minister at 12:00 GMT. EFE
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