Kruen Germany: US President Barack Obama urged fellow leaders of the G7 to stand up to “Russian aggression in Ukraine” as he enjoyed a traditional Bavarian welcome ahead of their summit in Germany. One of the many issues G7 leaders would be discussing during their two-day summit was “standing up to Russian aggression,” Obama said as he was welcomed by German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
In a sign of togetherness designed to show absentee President Vladimir Putin the unity of the G7 over the Ukraine crisis, Obama said ties between the US and Germany were “one of the strongest alliances the world has ever known.” Merkel, for her part, praised the United States as an “essential partner” despite occasional “differences of opinion.”
The US and Germany shared “common values”, Merkel stressed, in an apparent reference to Putin whose Russia was expelled from the G7 after Moscow’s annexation of Crimea.
The EU President, Donald Tusk, who also attending the meeting, said he wanted to “reconfirm G7 unity on sanctions policy” against Russia.
Meanwhile, thousands of demonstrators protesting against the policies of the world’s major industrialised countries clashed with police in this Bavarian town. A peaceful march through the town by anti-capitalism activists, opponents of globalisation, environmentalists and other groups turned violent after some of the protesters threw bottles and a fire extinguisher at police officials when they were stopped at a barricade blocking access to the road leading to the Elmau Castle Hotel, the summit venue.
