The leaders of the seven major powers, Germany, the United States, France, Canada, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom, pledged on Monday June 27 in a joint declaration, "to continue to provide financial, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support” to Ukraine, invaded on February 24 by Russia and theater of deadly fighting, “as long as it takes”.

The Heads of State and Government, meeting in a castle in the Bavarian Alps, spoke by videoconference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who asked them to "do the maximum" to put an end to the war which is ravaging his country before the end of the year, according to sources within the G7.

During his speech, the Ukrainian president "referred to the harsh winter" in Ukraine, "where it is more difficult to fight".

He insisted on the "need for full, entire, very operational support for Ukraine".

The G7 will "continue to increase the pressure" on Russian President Vladimir Putin, promised German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in a tweet to the Ukrainian President, thanking him for having participated in their meeting.

"Dreadful Attack"

As the G7 summit opened on Sunday, Russian missiles hit a residential complex near the center of kyiv, killing one and injuring several, authorities said.

Russia also said it struck three military training centers in northern and western Ukraine, including one near the Polish border.

On Monday, while the Ukrainian president was talking to the leaders of the G7, a new Russian strike hit a shopping center in the city of Kremenchuk, in central Ukraine, killing at least ten people and injuring forty.

War in Ukraine: a missile hits a shopping center, dead and injured

00:24

"This appalling attack has shown once again the depths of cruelty and barbarism into which the Russian leader is ready to fall," British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said of the attack from the G7 summit. murderous.

But Vladimir "Putin must understand that his behavior will only strengthen the determination" of Westerners to support Ukraine, he added.

Call for the free passage of cereals

One of the big challenges of the G7 summit, which runs until Tuesday, is to reaffirm Western unity and increase pressure on Russia, as the war in Ukraine takes hold and driving up energy and food prices around the world.

In this regard, the G7 on Monday also urged Russia to allow grain exports from Ukraine to avoid exacerbating the global food crisis.

The leaders "urgently" called on Moscow to "unconditionally cease its attacks on agricultural and transport infrastructure and allow the free passage of agricultural goods from Ukrainian Black Sea ports".

They also expressed "deep concern" after Moscow announced that Russia might transfer nuclear-capable missiles to Belarus.

They finally demanded the "immediate" return of the Ukrainians taken "by force" to Russia.

War in Ukraine: wheat exports still blocked in the port of Odessa

02:02

With AFP

The summary of the

France 24 week invites you to come back to the news that marked the week

I subscribe

Take international news everywhere with you!

Download the France 24 app

google-play-badge_EN