While Ukraine successfully conducted a peaceful presidential election, the situation in the eastern part of the country, near the Russian border, remains unpredictable. Armed groups have been attacking Ukrainian government forces and taking control of state buildings. The G7 announced their readiness to impose stricter sanctions on Russia if needed. German Chancellor Angela Merkel emphasized the importance of stabilizing the situation in Ukraine, especially after Russia's annexation of Crimea in March. If there is no progress in resolving the issues, heavier sanctions could be implemented. Despite minor sanctions already imposed, further measures were threatened if the May 25 elections were disrupted. With the elections proceeding smoothly, some believe that Russia may be more cooperative, potentially reducing the need for additional sanctions. However, the statement released on Wednesday indicates that the West is not yet convinced that President Vladimir Putin is taking sufficient steps to ease tensions. Russia denies involvement in the uprising in eastern Ukraine, where pro-Moscow militias have seized buildings, attacked Ukrainian forces, and declared independence. Despite being excluded from the G7 summit for the first time since joining in 1997, Putin will meet with Merkel, Hollande, and Cameron at a D-Day anniversary event in France. The focus is on what is discussed in these meetings rather than who Putin is meeting with. Obama has avoided contact with Putin and instead met with Ukrainian President Poroshenko in Warsaw, expressing support for the new leadership. Poroshenko has expressed willingness to meet with Putin for peace talks, although no meeting has been scheduled yet. The G7 summit will also address economic, trade, climate, and energy policies, with a particular emphasis on energy security in Europe, which relies heavily on Russian oil and gas. The leaders will issue a separate statement emphasizing the importance of ensuring the security of energy supplies and condemning the use of energy as a tool for political coercion or security threats. The crisis in Ukraine highlights the importance of prioritizing energy security in our collective agenda and calls for a significant change in how we diversify energy supplies. The economic discussion among G7 members, including the United States, Canada, Germany, France, Britain, Japan, and Italy, is expected to focus on sustaining economic recovery and implementing stricter regulations to prevent future banking sector issues. Leaders will also reaffirm their commitment to completing financial reforms this year, including addressing the issue of "too-big-to-fail" banking.