President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine is likely to ask G7 leaders to do more to support Ukraine’s struggle against Russia.
The Ukrainian president will address the G7 via video call from Kyiv, while Boris Johnson will use the second day of the summit to advocate for immediate action to assist grain exports from Ukraine.
In the meanwhile, Mr. Johnson will use Monday’s session in Germany to demand immediate action to help move grain supplies out of Ukraine, since many nations are experiencing grain shortages.
Major Ukrainian ports, notably Odesa, have been shut and there have been attacks on farms and warehouses since the conflict began.
Before the war, Ukraine contributed ten percent of the world’s wheat, nearly eighteen percent of the world’s maize, and fifty percent of the world’s sunflowers.
However, around 25 million tonnes of grain and wheat are at risk of rotting in silos, and food prices have risen significantly since the beginning of the war.
Approximately 47 million people in nations dependent on Ukrainian exports are at risk of a humanitarian catastrophe.
On Sunday, missile strikes resumed over Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, and Mr. Johnson warned that the country is “on the verge of a cliff.”
Mr. Johnson is anticipated to advocate for a global solution to the situation, including the development of land-based grain export routes.
The United Kingdom has urged Turkey, which controls access to the Black Sea, to do more to ship out grain supplies.
“Only Putin can resolve this pointless conflict,”
Later, Mr. Johnson will warn G7 leaders: “Millions of people are on the edge of starvation as a result of Putin’s activities in Ukraine, which are causing oil and food costs to skyrocket.
“Putin alone can halt this pointless and fruitless war.
However, world leaders must unite and use their combined economic and political might to aid Ukraine and make life simpler for people everywhere. Nothing should be out of the question.”
The prime minister also wants G7 leaders to examine the use of grain as a biofuel source, arguing that its users to power vehicles may be decreasing its availability.
The United Kingdom will also contribute £1.5 million to the development of a testing procedure to determine whether grain sold by Russia has been unlawfully smuggled from Ukraine.
Mr. Johnson pledged last week at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting an additional £372 million for countries most affected by rising global food costs.
In the following days, Mr. Zelenskyy will address both the G7 and NATO summits.
Before addressing the G7 leaders gathered in the Bavarian Alps, the Ukrainian president stated that he will need additional missile defense systems.
He stated, “We need a strong, sophisticated, and functional air defense that can provide comprehensive protection against these missiles.”
“We discuss this daily with our partners. There are existing agreements in place. And partners must move faster if they want to be true partners as opposed to just onlookers.
“Delays in the shipment of weaponry to our nation, as well as any restrictions, are an open invitation for Russia to launch additional attacks.
The occupiers — these terrorists — must be defeated with all of our strength so they do not believe they can exert pressure and outplay us.
