G7 stands united but not really

Although Russian President Vladimir Putin was suspended from the G7 meetings that took place in Brussels on Wednesday and Thursday, they will, however, meet today during the D-Day commemorations in France.

Nonetheless, French President Hollande has put his energy into keeping the two parties apart as he arranged for two separate dinners, one with US President Barack Obama and another with Vladimir Putin.

Obama mentioned, though, that if he were to meet with Putin he will not hesitate in delivering him the following message: 'There is a path, on which Russia has the capacity to engage directly with President Poroshenko now – he should take it! If he does not, we have no choice but to respond.'

During the G7 summit, the members agreed on further sanctions upon Russia if President Putin does not conform with their requests to withdraw troops from near the border with Ukraine, halt any supply of weapons and combatants to separatists and support Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.

Even if, on the outside, the G7 leaders seem to stand together united in their goals, cracks have appeared after France announced that it plans to complete a sale of a powerful warship to Russia, ignoring the other G7 members' request to halt the trade.

'G7 leaders are putting on a united front in urging Moscow to work with the newly elected Ukrainian president. But doubts remain whether some countries are willing to compromise their economic interests if Russia fails to do so,' said one reporter from Brussels.