Moments ago, President Biden boarded Marine One in Wilmington, beginning his journey to joint base Andrews before heading to the G7 summit in Italy. This overseas trip follows an unscheduled visit to Delaware yesterday to see his son Hunter after Hunter's conviction on three federal gun charges. Now in Italy, Biden aims to meet with G7 leaders to secure continued support for Ukraine aid amidst challenges such as the rise of conservative parties in Europe.
During discussions, G7 leaders are considering accessing around $300 billion in frozen Russian assets, with reported divisions on how to utilize the funds. Biden has advocated for using both the funds and interest, while European leaders prefer using only the interest. Progress on this issue was hinted at during Biden's recent trip to Normandy.
Other topics on the agenda include addressing the threat of artificial intelligence, developmental issues in Africa, and trade imbalances with China. Leaders are expected to announce new sanctions on Russia and call on China to cease supporting Russia's military actions.
Biden emphasized the U.S.'s commitment to supporting Ukraine and hinted at forthcoming actions to deter Russian aggression. The White House is reviewing Hamas's response to ceasefire talks and is focused on delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Biden is scheduled to hold a press conference with Ukrainian President Zelensky, where they will address key issues. The sudden cancellation of a White House press briefing raised questions, with speculation linking it to developments in Hunter's case and the president's abrupt departure from a gun safety event.
