Rome sets up Kyiv-centred G-7 summit. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni chose to organise this year’s first G-7 leader’s meeting on Saturday, marking the two-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. A draft of the summit’s conclusions, seen by Bloomberg, is hinged on reassuring Ukraine that the Group of Seven’s support will not waver going forward.
- Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky will take part in the meeting.
- Italy is also expected to sign a bilateral security agreement with Ukraine, following in the steps of London, Paris and Berlin.
Steadfast, bolstered support. The G-7 will again call on Russia to “completely” and “unconditionally withdraw its military forces” from Ukraine and pledge never to recognise elections that Russia holds now or in future in occupied territories. The draft also encompasses strengthened military assistance and production capabilities to respond to Kyiv’s weapons and ammo shortage.
- The statement will also renew the allies’ commitment toward Ukraine’s ten-point plan for a just peace, stressing the importance of territorial integrity and sovereignty and underscoring that the Kremlin hasn’t achieved its war aims.
The economic front. While House Republicans continue blocking the United States’ $60 billion aid package, the European Union and Japan have committed a roughly equal amount – which G-7 nations will welcome. Washington and Brussels recently imposed another round of sanctions on Russia, with the rest of the Group set to follow suit, with an added focus on enforcing the price cap on Russian oil and countering sanctions evasion via third countries.
- G-7 allies will condemn North Korea for providing Russia with ballistic missiles, call on Iran to stop helping Moscow militarily and express concerns over goods used for military purposes shipped via China, writes Bloomberg.
- They will also reaffirm that Russian Central Bank assets will remain frozen until Moscow agrees to pay for the damage it has inflicted on Ukraine, as discussions on seizing that $260 billion to redirect them towards Kyiv continue.
Along the Tajani line. “Ukraine is defending freedom and democracy. They are the founding values of our European identity and the foundations of international law, which we intend to defend vigorously so that no state feels threatened by its neighbour any longer. Liberal democracies have a duty to work towards a ‘just peace’. The free world is indebted to the Ukrainian women and men. They are not alone: Italy will continue to be at their side,” wrote Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on our sister publication Formiche.
- His op-ed details Rome’s multi-pronged approach to supporting Ukraine.
Closing the non-EU capitals tour. PM Meloni is set to travel to Washington and Ottawa, following her recent trip to Tokyo (and contacts with Berlin and Paris) to complete her one-on-one meetings with the other G-7 leaders. A White House statement noted that President Joe Biden will welcome the Italian PM on March 1, while Ottawa announced that she would be meeting with PM Justin Trudeau on the following day.
- The Italian and US leader will “reaffirm the strong relationship between the United States and Italy” and “discuss shared approaches to address global challenges,” including supporting Ukraine, preventing escalation in the Middle East, developments in North Africa and coordination regarding China.
- “They will also discuss Italy’s G-7 presidency and coordinate in advance of the NATO Summit in Washington,” reads the statement.
