By Shannon Pettypiece and Kelly O'Donnell -
NBC News
TELFS, Austria — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met virtually with G7 leaders during a summit in Germany on Monday, where the United States announced a new package of measures to help Ukraine in the war. against Russia.
A senior Joe Biden administration official at the G-7 explained that the United States is planning to provide a medium-to-long-range surface-to-air missile system to Ukraine, which would increase its capabilities to combat Russian attacks from a greater distance.
In this sense, the Administration is likely to announce the acquisition of this system this week along with other security aids, including additional artillery ammunition and counter-battery radars, said another source familiar with the information.
Meeting of the G-7 leaders and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on June 27, 2022 from Elmau Castle, Germany.Tobias Schwarz/AFP via Getty Images
The details of the materialization of this aid coincide with the effort of the presidents of the 7 largest economies in the world to express their long-term commitment to Ukraine by finalizing how to apply a limit to Russian oil prices, as well as imposing new sanctions on the Vladimir Putin's government and raise tariffs on Russian products.
Zelenskyy called on the G-7 leaders to step up their support, increase the weapons they supply and cut off Russian energy imports.
His meeting with the group came as forces from his country continue to struggle to protect the key eastern region of Luhansk from advancing Russian forces.
[Biden and G-7 leaders agree to ban gold imports from Russia]
Hours before the start of the summit, Russian missiles hit a residential building in kyiv on Sunday.
“Ukraine feels the support of the G-7 states.
Thank you for your defense and financial assistance to our country in the fight against the Russian invasion,” Zelenskyy said in a statement released by his office following his video address.
Several Russian missiles hit residential neighborhoods in the Ukrainian capital
June 27, 202200:19
“For us, the consistent position of the G-7 countries on sanctions is also important.
They must continue to increase, in particular by limiting the price of oil exported by the aggressor”, he stressed.
Although the heads of state intended to show their unity at the summit, in recent months divergent views have begun to emerge among European leaders on whether or not Ukraine should cede part of the territory to Russia to end the war, which has caused a rising energy prices and a global food shortage.
Biden stressed the need to show up as a united front.
"We have to stay together," he said Sunday before meeting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Putin, he added, “was counting from the beginning that NATO and the G-7 would split.
But we haven't and we won't."
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Germany, which has continued to import Russian gas and recently began sending heavy artillery to Ukraine, has been one of the countries Zelenskyy has criticized for not providing more support.
Limiting the price of Russian oil exports is one of the measures that the G-7 is most debating.
"The goal is to starve Russia, deprive Putin of his main source of money, and force down the price of Russian oil to help cushion the impact of Putin's war on the pumps," said one of the officials who He spoke to journalists covering the summit on condition of anonymity.
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The United States also announced Monday that it will seek to raise the tariff rate on more than 570 groups of Russian products worth about $2.3 billion, according to the second-ranking administration official.
The revenue from those tariffs would go directly to help Ukraine.
The G-7 leaders are also scheduled to announce expanded sanctions targeting Russian defense capabilities, in order to prevent Russia from replenishing weapons it is using against Ukraine, the second official said.
Leaders have already agreed to ban imports of Russian gold, a person familiar with the matter said on Sunday, which is Russia's second-largest export after energy and a significant source of revenue.
There are some signs that pressure from the United States and its allies is starting to take its toll on Moscow's finances.
[Ukraine Sentences First Russian Soldier Tried For War Crimes To Life In Prison]
On Sunday, Russia defaulted on two international bonds after its attempts to pay in its currency, the ruble, were blocked by international sanctions, multiple media outlets reported.
Before his trip, Biden authorized the shipment of another $450 million in weapons to Ukraine, bringing the total US commitment to $6.1 billion since the start of the war.
The latest round of equipment includes four high-mobility artillery rocket systems, 36,000 rounds of ammunition, 18 tactical vehicles, 1,200 grenade launchers, 2,000 machine guns, 18 coastal and riverine patrol boats, spare parts and other equipment, according to the Defense Department. .
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The presidents of France, Germany and Italy offered a show of unity to Zelenskyy last month when they paid a joint visit to kyiv and pledged to support Ukraine's bid to join the European Union.
Zelenskyy is also scheduled to speak virtually at a NATO summit in Madrid later this week, where leaders are scheduled to announce new force commitments to bolster the alliance's defense and deter Russia from invading. the member countries of NATO.
[The European Union recognizes Ukraine as a candidate country and the US approves the shipment of more weapons in the face of Russia's advance]
Last week, Ukrainian forces were forced to withdraw from the key eastern city of Sievierodonetsk after weeks of shelling and fighting with invading Russian forces, a local official said on Friday, leaving the city of Lysychansk as the only barrier. for Russia to take full control of half of Ukraine's industrial heartland.
Biden has said he does not plan to travel to Ukraine during his tour of Europe this week, making him one of the few G-7 leaders yet to visit the country.
The president said whether he went there would depend on "a lot of things related to whether or not it causes more difficulties for the Ukrainians, whether it distracts from what's going on."
