ATHENS: Leaders of the seven largest industrialized countries arrived for a summit in which their governments aimed to preserve a united front on Russian sanctions and find ways to avoid an escalation of Greece’s debt crisis.
Both the conflict in Ukraine and the standoff between Athens and its creditors–which could lead to a Greek default if negotiators fail to reach a deal to unlock aid for Greece–dominated much of the first day of the summit in the Bavarian Alps.
President Barack Obama arrived a few hours early on Sunday to meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel to discuss both issues. Most of the meeting, U.S. officials said, was focused on Ukraine, with the president urging Ms. Merkel to extend European Union sanctions against Russia before they expire this summer.
The leaders who gathered for the summit–from the U.S., U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Canada, and Japan–held talks on the world economy on Sunday afternoon. At dinner, they focused on foreign policy, a discussion dominated again by Russia and Ukraine, a person familiar with the matter said. They plan to address a range of issues Monday, including climate policy, in preparation for a key United Nations climate conference that starts in November.
