HIROSHIMA, Japan  —During the Group of Seven (G7) summit, leaders of the world's most powerful democracies planned to dedicate a significant portion of the first day to discussing punitive measures against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. The summit also focused on other global security concerns, such as North Korea's missile tests and China's expanding nuclear arsenal. The leaders visited a peace park in Japan commemorating victims of the atomic bomb, symbolizing the push for nuclear disarmament.

The G7 nations, including the United States, were set to announce new sanctions targeting Russian defense production and individuals involved in the war effort. The European Union also aimed to tighten restrictions on trade in Russian diamonds. The summit aimed to emphasize the importance of enforcing sanctions and isolate Russia further. The Japanese Prime Minister, representing Hiroshima, initiated the summit with a focus on nuclear disarmament, aligning with the peace efforts associated with the city.

Before the start of the G7 summit, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met with President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Kishida emphasized the importance of the Japan-U.S. alliance in maintaining peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region, given the threats posed by China, Russia, and North Korea.

Japan, while expanding its own military capabilities, relies on the presence of 50,000 U.S. troops and American military strength. President Biden expressed the belief that when their countries stand together, the world becomes safer. Meanwhile, as G7 leaders traveled to Hiroshima, Russia carried out another airstrike on the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. This attack marked the ninth aerial assault on the city in recent weeks.

Matthew P. Goodman, Senior Vice President for Economics at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, expects that the conversation at the G7 summit will primarily focus on the crisis in Ukraine. Jake Sullivan, the White House National Security Adviser, stated that discussions will cover the situation on the Ukrainian battlefield and the enforcement of sanctions.

The United States has already implemented various measures such as freezing Russian Central Bank funds, restricting banks' access to SWIFT, and imposing sanctions on numerous Russian entities. The G7 nations collectively imposed a price cap on Russian oil and diesel, which has been successful in reducing Russian oil revenues.

However, the effectiveness of sanctions depends on a country's ability to circumvent them. To ensure maximum impact, U.S. Treasury officials have been urging countries in Europe and Central Asia to sever their financial ties with Russia. Michel, President of the European Council, acknowledges the challenge of implementing increasingly stringent sanctions while minimizing adverse effects on the sanctioning countries themselves.

In addition to Ukraine, G7 leaders and invited guests from other countries are expected to discuss how to address China's increasing assertiveness and military buildup. There are concerns that China may attempt to forcibly seize Taiwan, potentially triggering a larger conflict. China claims Taiwan as its own and frequently conducts patrols near the island with its ships and warplanes.

Hiroshima maintained tight security during the summit, with a significant police presence throughout the city. A small group of protesters gathered near the Atomic Peace Dome memorial, but they were vastly outnumbered by the police.

Coinciding with the G7 summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted a two-day summit in Xi'an with leaders from Central Asian countries including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The discussions in this summit focused on strengthening the global economy and addressing rising prices that are impacting families and government budgets, particularly in developing countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

The debate surrounding raising the debt limit in the United States, the world's largest economy, has cast a shadow over the G7 talks. President Biden intends to return to Washington promptly after the summit to engage in debt negotiations, canceling previously planned meetings in Papua New Guinea and Australia.

The British Prime Minister arrived in Japan on Thursday and visited the JS Izumo, a vessel capable of carrying helicopters and fighter jets with vertical takeoff and landing capabilities. During their bilateral meeting, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced several agreements covering defense, trade and investment, technology, and climate change.

The G7 summit includes Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada, Italy, and the European Union. Additionally, several other countries have been invited to the summit to strengthen relations with non-G7 nations and garner support for initiatives such as isolating Russia. Leaders from Australia, Brazil, India, Indonesia, and South Korea are among the invited guests, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to participate via video link.