The G7 Summit Has Started: Here's What to Look Out For

President Joe Biden joined the leaders of the Group of Seven major democracies on Thursday for the annual summit being held this year in an Italian resort city where they are expected to address a U.S. proposal on a $50 billion loan to Ukraine using seized Russian assets and other issues.

Where is the G7 summit taking place?

It's being held in the luxury resort Borgo Egnazia in Puglia, southern Italy, that has been made to resemble a medieval village with white-washed buildings and olive groves.

How long will the G7 Summit go on?

The summit kicked off Thursday and will continue until Saturday.

Who are the G7 leaders?

Along with Biden, the others include Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, French President Emmanel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Italian Prime Minister Giorgi Meloni.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel are representing the European Union.

Is Russia at the G7 summit?

Moscow has been excluded from the conferences since Russia illegally annexed Crimea in 2014.

Who else will attend the G7 summit?

Pope Francis is expected to address the gathering on Friday about his fears over the use of AI and the continuing fighting in Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, the Associated Press reported.

What is Biden's G7 summit proposal for Ukraine?

The president has proposed using profits from seized Russian assets as collateral for a multi-year loan to Ukraine, which would allow Kyiv to use the funds to purchase much-needed weapons instead of U.S. taxpayers.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will also meet with leaders at the summit to press the case for military aid.

What are the G7 summit discussions about the Israel-Hamas war?

Biden will ask his fellow leaders to support the recent cease-fire proposal that has been accepted by Israel, but which Hamas has not agreed to.