DThe heads of state and government of the industrialized western countries wrote in their final declarations what they had repeatedly featured in pictures and scenes three days earlier at their G-7 summit in Elmau, Bavaria. Their joint text states, “at a time when the world is threatened by division and upheaval, we, the G7, are united”.

Together with “partners” – representatives of India and Indonesia, Senegal and South Africa as well as Argentina were also invited to Elmau – they are committed to “defending universal human rights and democratic values, a rules-based multilateral order and the resilience of our democratic society”. . It is important to accept the “challenges of our time”.

At the conclusion of the summit, Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz looked back on the “intensive and constructive” days in Elmau. In times of uncertainty, “what is more important is that we have friends and allies in this world,” said the Chancellor. These friends are members of the G-7 group. You can clearly feel that in Elmau.

Scholz praises trust

“Elmau has been very good to the G7 and the countries that work together here because we are taking our time,” said Scholz. There should be direct talk that allows for mutual response and pick up of conversation threads half a day later. “We made it here,” said Scholz. Therefore, the meeting “really paid off”, “a great trust has been created” – and that will also help in the future.

Among the challenges mentioned, the G7 include Russia’s war in Ukraine, its consequences on energy prices and food supplies, as well as the “long-term task”, namely the fight against climate change and strengthening democracy in the world. In addition to various guarantees of cooperation to complete these tasks, the final declaration contains various promises to allocate large sums of money to bring about change.

Ukraine did not receive an explicit promise to deliver new weapons systems, instead it noted that the G7 would transfer $2.8 billion in humanitarian aid to the country this year and have pledged ten times that amount in budgetary support. International conferences should be held to rebuild the country after the war, and the G7 supported the “international reconstruction plan” that “Ukraine is working on and implementing in close coordination with international partners”.

According to the Federal Chancellor, the meeting in Elmau once again “in an impressive manner” demonstrates the unity and determination of the G7 to oppose Russian aggression and condemn Russia’s “merciless war”. The rocket that hit earlier in the day at a shopping center near Kyiv was further evidence that Putin maintains his “brutal aggression against the population”.