NATO, G7, EU leaders display unity, avoid confrontation with Russia

Leaders from NATO, the G7 and the EU convened in Brussels to find ways of supporting Ukraine without pushing the West into an all-out war with Russia. A new US-European energy deal aims to isolate Moscow.

G7 leaders called on Russia to end the war in Ukraine

Helicopters patrolled the skies and security was beefed up in Brussels as leaders of the NATO, the G7 and European Union held consecutive summits in the Belgian capital to address Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The high-stake talks ended with new pledges aiming to isolate Russia further but stopped short of a direct military response to the war in Ukraine.

NATO leaders agreed to activate its chemical and nuclear defense units in light of a potential chemical attack by Russian forces in Ukraine and committed to bolstering the alliance’s eastern flank.

G7 leaders agreed to block financial transactions involving the Russian central bank’s international reserves of gold and ramp up humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

A new transatlantic energy pact, signed by the leaders of the European Union and the US, marked a more robust initiative by the West to isolate the Kremlin for its actions in Ukraine.

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In an effort to reduce the EU’s dependence on Russian energy — the bloc imports 41% of its gas from Russia — the US agreed to increase liquid natural gas (LNG) exports to the EU by 15 billion cubic meters this year.

After announcing the deal, US President Joe Biden highlighted how Russian President Vladimir Putin uses energy to “coerce and manipulate his neighbors.”

Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, welcomed the deal and said it was important for Europe to shift away from Russia and toward energy suppliers that are “trustworthy, friendly and reliable.”

She also urged Western allies to remain vigilant while imposing sanctions on Russia.

“Now all our efforts should be on enforcing these sanctions and preventing circumvention and evasion,” she said following the EU summit.

Source: https://www.dw.com/en/nato-g7-eu-leaders-display-unity-avoid-confrontation-with-russia/a-61259981?maca=en-Whatsapp-sharing