The heads of state and government of the western G-7 powers renewed their solidarity with Ukraine on Monday after a video conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and announced further tightening of sanctions against Russia.

Selenskyj, who as usual spoke from a video room in Kyiv in a green T-shirt, was connected live to the conference session in Elmau, Bavaria.

According to information from G-7 circles, Zelenskyy asked the group of states for an effort to end Russia's war against his country this year.

Johannes Leithauser

Political correspondent in Berlin.

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In a six-page statement released afterwards, the G7 shed light on many aspects of Russia's war of aggression and say they agree to continue increasing economic pressure on Russia.

New ways should be sought to isolate Russia economically and to prevent sanctions from being circumvented.

Russian income from gold exports should also be limited as far as possible.

Further steps should be taken to reduce dependence on Russian energy supplies.

Sanctions that prevent the export of technological goods to Russia should be expanded.

In general, the seven leading industrialized nations pledged in their declaration to provide Ukraine with further "financial, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support" and to maintain it "as long as necessary".

In addition, the G-7 states feel responsible for mitigating the global consequences of Russian aggression, for example in the food sector, especially towards the world's poorest.

G7 warn Moscow against using weapons of mass destruction

The Seven reiterate their condemnation of the Russian war of aggression in many details.

They again called on Russia to act "responsibly" with regard to the use of weapons of mass destruction and reiterated the threat that any use of such weapons is "unacceptable" and will have "serious consequences".

The seven are seriously concerned by Russia's announcement that it will transfer nuclear-capable missiles to Belarus.

The heads of state and government reiterated the position that Ukraine must be able to decide on the timing and content of peace negotiations.

Therefore, the country will continue to be supplied with military equipment.

However, the Ukrainian resilience should also be strengthened by expanding the exchange of secret service information and by providing more help in defending against cyber attacks.

Chancellor Scholz had previously again emphasized the proportion of German aid to Ukraine.

He said in the ZDF morning show that Germany was supplying “a lot of weapons” to the attacked Ukraine – that was “recognized everywhere”.

The German aid is "evaluated everywhere as an important contribution", the Chancellor repeated again.

It is the case that “Germany plays a central role and will continue to play it”.

Scholz again listed details of German military aid on television: the delivery of modern self-propelled howitzers, anti-aircraft tanks, rocket launchers and an anti-aircraft missile system.

There is "more practical cooperation" with the United States and Great Britain than some people think.

"We have to be tougher than Putin"

Shortly thereafter, after a morning walk with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the Chancellor again discussed aid for Ukraine.

All G-7 countries are "very close" in the will to help Ukraine and are "as solidary as possible".

It is crucial to "be firm" in this, while at the same time preventing the escalation of a conflict between Russia and the West.

Russia's war in Ukraine was constantly present on the first day of the summit, not only in the debates about the consequences for the global economy, but also in the jokes of the participants: at the beginning of the first working session, British Prime Minister Johnson asked whether because of the heat in the (non-air-conditioned) conference room, the jackets could be taken off, and then gave the answer himself, "we have to be tougher than Putin".

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau then remembered an old propaganda photo showing Putin shirtless on a horse.

Yes, it would be best to take off your shirt right away, he recommended;

while horse lover Ursula von der Leyen added that riding is the best anyway.

Johnson remembered the remark that Putin should be shown his abs.