Obama, Merkel push G-7 to keep sanctions on Russia

Kim Hjelmgaard | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Obama, Merkel push G-7 to keep sanctions on Russia In addition to maintaining sanctions against Russia, the White House is urging G-7 allies to support Ukraine's efforts for economic reform.

GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany — World leaders holding talks in Germany said Sunday they would push to maintain economic sanctions on Russia until a peace plan for Ukraine is fully implemented.

President Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel discussed the issue as the two-day Group of Seven, or G-7, summit, got underway.

The White House said "the duration of the sanctions should be clearly linked to Russia's full implementation of the Minsk agreements and respect for Ukraine's sovereignty." The White House statement was referring to the cease-fire deal reached in February during talks in Minsk, Belarus.

Obama on Monday will also meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider-al-Abadi, who may press the United States and its allies for more military support to combat the Islamic State's territorial advances.

Leaders from the U.S., Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan are meeting here in Germany's Alpine region near the border with Austria. The European Union is also represented. Russia was excluded for the second year in a row for backing Ukrainian separatists — an allegation it denies.

The push to extend sanctions targeting Russia's economy and banks comes even as Washington has admitted the measures have not dramatically shifted Russian President Vladimir Putin's position about the conflict in Ukraine.

Donald Tusk, president of the European Council, said at a news conference that Russia would not be invited back to the summit as long as it behaves aggressively against Ukraine and other countries. "Our group is not only a political and economic group of interests, but first of all this is a community of values," the Polish politician said.

Obama arrived in Munich, in southern Germany, early Sunday. As the president exited Air Force One, he was greeted by men, women and children in traditional German dress. A young boy and girl gave him flowers, and he signed a guest book.

Obama then boarded a helicopter to the mountain village of Kruen to sample Bavarian food and culture and to meet privately with Merkel, an ally whose diplomatic patience has been tested in recent years by revelations that the National Security Agency tapped her cellphone.

Obama, Merkel meet ahead of G-7 summit in Germany President Obama received a warm welcome from German Chancellor Angela Merkel and local Bavarians when he arrived in Germany for the G-7 meetings. Protesters filled streets elsewhere in the region through the weekend.

"I can't think of a better place to come to celebrate the enduring friendship between the German and American people," Obama said after he arrived in Kruen. "The fact that all of us are here together is proof that conflicts can end and great progress is possible."

The summit is taking place 25 years after the reunification of Germany and 70 years after World War II ended.

Amid a few joking references to lederhosen and beer — Obama said he forgot to bring his German leather breeches and urged the crowd to partake of the latter — the president said the G-7 summit would seek a consensus over standing up to Russian aggression in Ukraine, combating violent extremism, climate change and trade.

"It was a very fine beer. I wish I was staying," he said.

Merkel said the U.S. was an "essential partner" for Germany but also alluded to occasional "differences of opinion."

British Prime Minister David Cameron told reporters here Sunday that Britain will send an extra 125 military trainers to Iraq to help combat the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL.

Another topic during the summit is Greece's unsuccessful attempts so far to break a deadlock with its creditors from the EU and International Monetary Fund. Representatives from the EU and IMF are at the summit.

Ahead of the G-7 summit, there were minor clashes between police and protesters in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, a town a few miles from the Schloss Elmau hotel where the heavily guarded meeting of world leaders is taking place.

Demonstrators on Sunday temporarily blocked the road leading to the hotel, forcing the leaders to access it by helicopter.

"We do not need to apologize for our meeting. It is only because of the G-7 countries that people can demonstrate, can think what they want. I am sorry for this maybe trivial truth, but from time to time it is important that someone says it openly," the EU's Tusk said, addressing protesters' claims that the summit is a waste of money and achieves nothing.