Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will join leaders of the Group of 7 nations, including US President Joe Biden, for a virtual meeting this morning, a senior administration official confirmed to CNN.
The leaders will "discuss the progress we’ve made together under Germany’s presidency to address the most pressing global challenges of our time," the senior official said.
Energy, as it relates to Ukraine and the European Union, will be a key topic.
“The Leaders will discuss Russia’s brutal war against Ukraine and coordinate our efforts to support Ukraine for as long as it takes. They will also discuss other priorities like addressing the climate crisis, food and energy security, the G7 Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, and more. The G7 is more united than ever before and we look forward to further strengthening the partnership under Japan’s G7 Presidency in 2023,” the senior official said.
The meeting comes after Biden and Zelensky spoke by phone Sunday. On the call, Biden highlighted how the US "is prioritizing efforts to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense through our security assistance,” the White House said in a statement.
Kremlin spokesman unsure if Putin has spoken with Bout
"No, as far as I know, he didn't. Although, I can't say about a phone [conversation], I don't know for sure," Peskov said during a regular briefing with journalists in response to a question about whether Putin has spoken with Bout since the arms dealer's release on Thursday.
Peskov also commented on Bout joining the pro-Kremlin nationalist party Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR).
"This is not our question, this is Bout's personal choice," Peskov said. "If he sees party prospects for himself, well, good for him. This is his own business."
Earlier on Monday, Russian state news agency TASS quoted Bout as saying that for now he is not planning to run for political office or participate in elections.
TASS also quoted LDPR leader Leonid Slutsky as saying that Bout will be invited to a meeting of the State Duma’s committee on international affairs.
During the call with journalists, Peskov was also asked whether WNBA star Brittney Griner, with whom Bout was exchanged in a prisoner swap, had filed a petition for clemency.
"All necessary procedures were performed in accordance with the law," Peskov said without elaborating further.
All of Ukraine's thermal and hydroelectric power stations have been damaged in the relentless Russian missile strikes targeting the country's power system, Ukraine's prime minister said Sunday.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that "there is a significant [power] generation deficit" in the country's energy system, following eight waves of Russian attacks targeting critical infrastructure.