G 7 Meeting

From the BBC:
"G7 summit: Obama and Merkel firm on Russia sanctions"

The US and German leaders say sanctions on Russia must stay until it implements a deal to end fighting in Ukraine. President Barack Obama and Chancellor Angela Merkel held talks as the G7 summit of economic powers began in southern Germany. Moscow is the target of European Union and US sanctions over its role in support of Ukrainian rebels. Russia has been excluded from what was previously known as the G8, since the annexation of Crimea last year.  The West accuses Russia of sending military forces into eastern Ukraine to help the rebels - a charge echoed by analysts. Moscow denies this, saying any Russian soldiers there are volunteers.  As he arrived in the Bavarian Alps, Mr Obama said G7 leaders would discuss "standing up to Russian aggression" in Ukraine.   The White House issued a statement after Mr Obama's talks with Mrs Merkel, saying: "The duration of sanctions should be clearly linked to Russia's full implementation of the Minsk agreements and respect for Ukraine's sovereignty." Germany, Britain and the US want an agreement to offer support to any EU member state tempted to withdraw backing for the sanctions on Moscow, which are hurting the Russian economy. The European Union's President of the Council of Ministers, Donald Tusk, signalled a toughening of sanctions in a statement at the G7. "If anyone wants to start a debate about changing the sanctions regime, the discussion could only be about strengthening it."   UK Prime Minister David Cameron said he was hopeful that there would be a united front to ensure that sanctions were "rolled over" despite admitting that "sanctions are having an impact on all of us". EU sanctions are due to expire at the end of July. Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday that Russia was not a threat and had "other things to worry about". He told the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera: "Only an insane person and only in a dream can imagine that Russia would suddenly attack Nato.  The other leaders at the summit are Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, French President Francois Hollande, Canada's PM Stephen Harper and Italian PM Matteo Renzi.  On Monday, the summit is also due to discuss militant threats from groups like Islamic State and Boko Haram with the leaders of Nigeria, Tunisia and Iraq, who form part of an "outreach" group of non-G7 countries.

^ Several EU member countries have been starting to go against the sanctions (mostly because they are being offered economic deals with Russia to do so) and the sanctions shouldn't be lifted until the Crimea is back in Kyiv's control and Russia stops giving soldiers and weapons to the ethnic Russian terrorists in eastern Ukraine. Putin has said only an "insane" person would think that Russia would attack NATO (ie NATO considers an attack on any member country an attack on itself.) Those are funny words considering only an insane person would do something they know is wrong and invade, occupy and annex territory that doesn't belong to them  - - - and they clearly knew they were in the wrong as they lied openly about having any involvement until their control was firm. Usually if you believe you are in the right you make sure everyone knows about from the very beginning and don't try to hide your involvement. The G 7 countries need to work together to make sure major issues like the Ukraine, Russia and ISIS are addressed. Hopefully, what the G 7 does will be productive and not merely words as sometimes happens. ^

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-33038788