Wars to dominate G7 talks in Italy
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STORY: The island of Capri is beefing up security measures on Tuesday (April 16) ahead of the G7 foreign ministers meeting.
Host Italy's top diplomat Antonio Tajani said on Monday that efforts to end wars in the Middle East and Ukraine will dominate the meeting.
"Our international position is very clear but if our position is strong it's easier to talk with others. We are united. This is crucial."
The minsters from major Western powers will present a united front in demanding a ceasefire in Gaza and a de-escalation of tensions between Israel and Iran.
On Tuesday (April 16), Israel's war cabinet was set to meet for the third time in three days, according to an official.
It will decide on a response to Iran's first-ever direct attack.
Iran launched the attack on Saturday (April 13) in retaliation for an airstrike on its embassy compound in Damascus on April 1 attributed to Israel.
President Joe Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the weekend that the United States, Israel's main protector, would not participate in an Israeli counter-strike.
Together with European allies, Washington strove to toughen economic and political sanctions in an attempt to persuade Israel to abstain from violent retaliation.
This highlights a unified position from the West may not bring peace to the Middle East.
Tajani also said the West alone could not bring sufficient pressure on Russia to end the Ukraine war.
He said it was essential to involve China.
"If you want to achieve peace we need also Chinese engagement. Chinese are friends of Russia, and for this, it is important the Chinese engagement for peace."
In Ukraine, the momentum on the battlefield has shifted in Russia's favor.
The West is seemingly incapable of providing Kyiv with the weaponry it desperately needs.
The United States has proposed that the G7 looks at ways of utilizing some $300 billion of sovereign Russian assets held in the West to help Kyiv.
Diplomatic sources say the U.S., Canada and Britain want the assets to be seized...
But that EU nations are reluctant to do so because it would set a dangerous legal precedent.
