Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in France to attend the G7 Summit. Modi will be joining world leaders for a dinner shortly Watch this video to know more.

Indian PM Modi arrives in France for G7 Summit

G7 leaders gathered in the French resort of Biarritz for the first working session of their latest summit on Sunday, August 25.

G7 leaders hold first working session

An isolated <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russias-vladimir-putin-voices-cautious-optimism-on-ukraine-in-meeting-with-french-president-emmanuel-macron-244252">President Donald Trump arrived Saturday for the G7 summit </a>in Biarritz bearing threats of tariffs against host France and a decision to deepen his trade war with China, despite fears of the US or even global recession.

Trump dislikes the kind of multilateral forums epitomized by the G7, insisting on a policy of "America first" and his skills, honed in a real estate career, of one-to-one deal-making.

Ahead of the summit in the elegant French seaside resort, he has criticized most of his partners, rowing with them over Iran, trade, global warming and Brexit.

And on the eve of his trip, he brushed aside concerns of<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/gold-hits-over-the-six-year-peak-on-risk-off-sentiment-242745"> global economic slowdown </a>to exchange new tariffs with China, insisting "we'll win."

In another piece of brinkmanship, he also confirmed right before departing on the Marine One helicopter that he would retaliate against France's iconic wine exports if President Emmanuel Macron didn't retreat on a new tax that will hit US digital giants like Google.

"We'll be taxing their wine as they've never seen before," he vowed.

The other G7 leaders from&nbsp;Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan, are waiting for Trump with a mixture of alarm and resignation.

Macron has even decided that for the first time the G7 won't issue a group statement at the end of the summit, given the extent of divisions.&nbsp;

At last year's meeting in Canada, Trump withdrew his signature in fury at Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.&nbsp;

It would be "pointless," Macron said.

Is the World economy at stake?&nbsp;

Other G7 leaders are already alarmed at the fallout from the escalating US-China trade war.

But Trump, bullish as ever, steeply ramped up tariffs against China on Friday after Beijing slapped its new tariffs against US products.

Trump says he alone can take on the Chinese after decades of intellectual property theft and a slate of other unfair trading practices.

He called the struggle "a little spat."

At the G7 he is expected to seek allies, but the other leaders are deeply sceptical about whether Trump's crusade can ever succeed or&nbsp;whether it will tip a slowing world economy over the edge.

The first working event of the G7 will be a session early Sunday that the White House specifically asked at the "last minute" to be added to the agenda: a meeting of the leaders on economic growth.

Trump will tell his partners "to write&nbsp;the rules for this century, in contrast to the unfair trade practices that we see coming out of China," a senior administration official told reporters.

Trump will also urge the Europeans, Canada and Japan to shake up their economies along US lines.

"You’ll have the president engaging in honest conversations," the official said.

Cozy no more

Despite the diplomatic storm clouds gathering over Biarritz, on the Atlantic coast, Trump said the trip "will be very productive."

But there are questions over the future of the G7 as Trump's nationalist approach turns it into something more like a 6+1.

G7s always used to be cozy affairs, giving the leaders of like-minded, capitalist democracies a chance to relax and talk frankly in the context of largely shared values.

However, there is increasingly little common ground between Trump and what would ordinarily be among the closest of US allies.

Yet another diplomatic&nbsp;hand grenade went off days before the trip, when Trump reiterated his desire to recreate the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/macron-seeks-ukraine-progress-from-putin-in-rare-pre-g7-talks-243465">G8 format with Russia</a>, expelled in 2014 after Vladimir Putin's invasion of Crimea.

Other G7 leaders have rebuffed this, but Trump, who will host the G7 next year, is unlikely to give up easily.

Another point of contention is Brexit, the chaotic decision by Britain to quit the European Union.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has staked much on striking a bilateral trade deal with the United States as a key step in his country's new go-it-alone strategy.

While Johnson finds it tough going with Merkel and Macron, he's likely to encounter a much warmer Trump, who says the EU has "not treated the UK very well."

An isolated President Donald Trump arrived Saturday for the G7 summit in Biarritz bearing threats of tariffs against host France and a decision to deepen his trade war with China, despite fears of the US or even global recession.

An isolated President Donald Trump arrived Saturday for the G7 summit in Biarritz bearing threats of tariffs against host France and a decision to deepen his trade war with China, despite fears of the US or even global recession. Trump dislikes the kind of multilateral forums epitomized by the G7, insisting on a policy of "America first" and his skills, honed in a real estate career, of one-to-one deal-making. Ahead of the summit in the elegant French seaside resort, he has criticized most of his partners, rowing with them over Iran, trade, global warming and Brexit. And on the eve of his trip, he brushed aside concerns of global economic slowdown to exchange new tariffs with China, insisting "we'll win." In another piece of brinkmanship, he also confirmed right before departing on the Marine One helicopter that he would retaliate against France's iconic wine exports if President Emmanuel Macron didn't retreat on a new tax that will hit US digital giants like Google. "We'll be taxing their wine as they've never seen before," he vowed. The other G7 leaders from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan, are waiting for Trump with a mixture of alarm and resignation. Macron has even decided that for the first time the G7 won't issue a group statement at the end of the summit, given the extent of divisions. At last year's meeting in Canada, Trump withdrew his signature in fury at Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. It would be "pointless," Macron said. Is the World economy at stake? Other G7 leaders are already alarmed at the fallout from the escalating US-China trade war. But Trump, bullish as ever, steeply ramped up tariffs against China on Friday after Beijing slapped its new tariffs against US products. Trump says he alone can take on the Chinese after decades of intellectual property theft and a slate of other unfair trading practices. He called the struggle "a little spat." At the G7 he is expected to seek allies, but the other leaders are deeply sceptical about whether Trump's crusade can ever succeed or whether it will tip a slowing world economy over the edge. The first working event of the G7 will be a session early Sunday that the White House specifically asked at the "last minute" to be added to the agenda: a meeting of the leaders on economic growth. Trump will tell his partners "to write the rules for this century, in contrast to the unfair trade practices that we see coming out of China," a senior administration official told reporters. Trump will also urge the Europeans, Canada and Japan to shake up their economies along US lines. "You’ll have the president engaging in honest conversations," the official said. Cozy no more Despite the diplomatic storm clouds gathering over Biarritz, on the Atlantic coast, Trump said the trip "will be very productive." But there are questions over the future of the G7 as Trump's nationalist approach turns it into something more like a 6+1. G7s always used to be cozy affairs, giving the leaders of like-minded, capitalist democracies a chance to relax and talk frankly in the context of largely shared values. However, there is increasingly little common ground between Trump and what would ordinarily be among the closest of US allies. Yet another diplomatic hand grenade went off days before the trip, when Trump reiterated his desire to recreate the G8 format with Russia, expelled in 2014 after Vladimir Putin's invasion of Crimea. Other G7 leaders have rebuffed this, but Trump, who will host the G7 next year, is unlikely to give up easily. Another point of contention is Brexit, the chaotic decision by Britain to quit the European Union. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has staked much on striking a bilateral trade deal with the United States as a key step in his country's new go-it-alone strategy. While Johnson finds it tough going with Merkel and Macron, he's likely to encounter a much warmer Trump, who says the EU has "not treated the UK very well."

Isolated Donald Trump descends on G-7, talking trade war

Thousands of anti-globalisation and environmental activists joined yellow vest protesters and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/spains-five-main-election-candidates-214069">Basque separatists </a>on Saturday near the French coastal resort of Biarritz to demand action from G7 and other world leaders set to meet there.

Protesters converged on the nearby town of Hendaye on the French border with Spain to protest against economic and climate policies pursued by the world's leading industrial nations and to promote alternatives.

"The top capitalist leaders are here and we have to show them that the fight continues," said Alain Missana, 48, an electrician wearing a yellow vest symbol of the anti-government demonstrations that have been held in France for months.

"It's more money for the rich and nothing for the poor. We see the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/now-ireland-may-block-eu-mercosur-deal-over-amazon-fire-245087"> Amazonian forests burning and the arctic melting</a>. The leaders will hear us," he said.

Fires are devastating large swathes of the forest which are considered a vital bulwark against climate change.

Protesters waved banners for causes ranging from gay rights to Palestine, but their messages were aimed firmly at the leaders of the United States, Germany, France, Britain, Canada, Japan and Italy who are set to begin three days of talks on Saturday.

"No to the G7. For another world," one banner read.

"Heads of the state the Amazon is burning. Act now," said another.

The protesters marched under bright-blue summer skies from Hendaye to the town of Irun, Spain, some 30 km (18 miles) south of the G7 venue Biarritz.

More than 13,000 police officers, backed by soldiers, are guarding the Biarritz summit site and police had feared that anarchist groups might have tried to derail Saturday's protest, which has been billed as a peaceful, family event.

Four police officers were lightly wounded on Friday after protesters fired a homemade mortar near the anti-G7 counter-summit in Hendaye.

Police arrested 17 people for hiding their faces.

There was no immediate sign of any radical groups on Saturday and the police presence was light.

Protesters came from all parts of France and beyond including from across the border, where Basque separatists were also keen to show their solidarity.

"The counter-G7 demonstration is in this Basque region and we want people to see we are part of it," said Alfredo Akuna, a 46-year-old engineer from San Sebastián who wore traditional Basque clothing.

"We're involved in many movements including anti-capitalism and anti-fascism so it's important to be here to show that." 
&nbsp;

Thousands of anti-globalisation and environmental activists joined yellow vest protesters and Basque separatists on Saturday near the French coastal resort of Biarritz to demand action from G7 and other world leaders set to meet there.

Thousands of anti-globalisation and environmental activists joined yellow vest protesters and Basque separatists on Saturday near the French coastal resort of Biarritz to demand action from G7 and other world leaders set to meet there. Protesters converged on the nearby town of Hendaye on the French border with Spain to protest against economic and climate policies pursued by the world's leading industrial nations and to promote alternatives. "The top capitalist leaders are here and we have to show them that the fight continues," said Alain Missana, 48, an electrician wearing a yellow vest symbol of the anti-government demonstrations that have been held in France for months. "It's more money for the rich and nothing for the poor. We see the Amazonian forests burning and the arctic melting. The leaders will hear us," he said. Fires are devastating large swathes of the forest which are considered a vital bulwark against climate change. Protesters waved banners for causes ranging from gay rights to Palestine, but their messages were aimed firmly at the leaders of the United States, Germany, France, Britain, Canada, Japan and Italy who are set to begin three days of talks on Saturday. "No to the G7. For another world," one banner read. "Heads of the state the Amazon is burning. Act now," said another. The protesters marched under bright-blue summer skies from Hendaye to the town of Irun, Spain, some 30 km (18 miles) south of the G7 venue Biarritz. More than 13,000 police officers, backed by soldiers, are guarding the Biarritz summit site and police had feared that anarchist groups might have tried to derail Saturday's protest, which has been billed as a peaceful, family event. Four police officers were lightly wounded on Friday after protesters fired a homemade mortar near the anti-G7 counter-summit in Hendaye. Police arrested 17 people for hiding their faces. There was no immediate sign of any radical groups on Saturday and the police presence was light. Protesters came from all parts of France and beyond including from across the border, where Basque separatists were also keen to show their solidarity. "The counter-G7 demonstration is in this Basque region and we want people to see we are part of it," said Alfredo Akuna, a 46-year-old engineer from San Sebastián who wore traditional Basque clothing. "We're involved in many movements including anti-capitalism and anti-fascism so it's important to be here to show that."

Protesters march near Biarritz demanding action from G7 leaders

By Winnie King

Italy is projected to be the first G7 nation to officially endorse China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). And that’s raising the ire of both the European Union and the United States.

Having re-entered a recession at the end of 2018, the eurozone’s third largest economy is welcoming China’s President Xi Jinping for a three-day state visit. While there, Italy is expected to sign a memorandum of understanding – making it the 124th nation to sign up for this geographically expansive infrastructure and investment strategy.

Proposed in 2013, China’s BRI is a transcontinental project that focuses on infrastructure investment and projects that promote regional cooperation, development and connectivity. It offers participants a means to secure their trade, energy and transport network. China presents it as a win-win relationship aimed at mutual growth. But there are suspicions regarding China’s motivations – it’s seen as a way for China to embed its global influence – and it could make participants dependent on China. Today the BRI is linked to two-thirds of the world’s population, and has to-date seen an investment of more than $1 trillion.

The Italian job

While the current Italian government has not been fully unified toward China, a severe economic downturn has made the world’s second-largest economy look more appealing to it. Alberto Bradanini, Italy’s former ambassador to China, has stressed that Europe’s own indecision and inability to tackle trade deficits with China (of which Italy contributed approximately €176m, or an eighth of the EU’s total trade deficit) is a key motivator behind this decision.

Italy wants to enhance its “Made in Italy” brand through increasing trade – especially in the form of exports – to China. The BRI is seen as a vehicle to achieve this. Italy offers goods (in particular luxury goods and foodstuffs) that are attractive to China’s growing middle class and increasingly affluent population.

China is also interested in investing in Italian firms. More significant, however, are Italy’s key infrastructure assets. This would enhance the transport and trading network of the BRI, giving it strategic access to Europe. Less than 2 per cent of Italy’s sea imports come from China so there are substantial prospects for growth in that area.

A deal between Genoa’s port authority and shipping firm China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) has already been approved by the Italian government. And the port city of Trieste hopes for something similar. This would offer China and the BRI a more direct route to move goods onto the European continent and an ideal hub for accessing new rail lines and transport networks to Germany, Austria, Slovenia and other regional economies. By giving China access to its ports, Italy is hoping for infrastructure investment from China’s Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) – something the Italian government is trying to link to its role in the BRI.

With the port city of Palermo due to be part of Xi’s itinerary, it is clear that China is focused on European shipping terminal options. Following Algeria’s joining of the BRI in mid-2018, Palermo could help establish a new North African trade corridor.

Disunity and discontent 
 
The international response to Italy’s decision has been, at best, mixed. Germany and France have led the charge, raising concerns of China’s poor reputation regarding transparency, unfair BRI practices of favouring Chinese firms, as well as Chinese protectionism restricting European firms from Chinese projects.

The EU is clearly particularly concerned about what Italy’s decision means for the bloc’s China Policy. It is important to note, however, that when it comes to the BRI, Europe’s unified China’s Policy fell as early as 2017. It was then that Premier Li Keqiang’s visited Hungary and the coalition of Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC), also including Poland and the Czech Republic, signed up to the BRI. Greece, Portugal and Croatia then followed suit.

The US has also derided Italy’s decision to break the G7 position on the BRI. The Trump government has labelled the BRI as a vehicle for debt trap diplomacy and accused the BRI of being nothing but a vanity project.

The growing tensions between China and the US do not help matters. The two sides are locked in a trade war and US charges of espionage against Chinese tech firm Huawei encapsulate its fears over Chinese investment in strategic industries and acquisitions. But traditional alliances seem to have fallen to the wayside, as Telecom Italia has agreed to remain partnered with Huawei.

The full impact of Xi’s visit to Italy will become more clear come April 9 when Brussels is scheduled to host an EU-China summit. In the build-up,&nbsp;however, the EU’s increasingly China-sceptic leadership has published an official strategy document labelling China a “systemic rival”. Targeting the BRI specifically, it calls upon member states to work together to pressure the Chinese for more accountability and greater transparency in the area of infrastructure and investment projects. Furthermore, on March 18th the EU tabled a proposal calling upon all member states to ban Chinese firms from bidding on public procurement projects.

Italy’s status as a G7 country is a coup for the Chinese leadership and the legitimacy of the BRI. While the prospect of Italy’s participation underscores growing fault lines in the EU’s joint approach to China, China has also been effective at dividing and conquering EU member states by targeting them individually.

So Italy’s decision to join the BRI is significant. But four years ago we saw Italy, France and Germany join China’s AIIB, contrary to US wishes. Therefore, Italy is neither the first, nor will it be the last European economy that will “go rogue” and follow its own national interest with regard to China.

 
(Winnie King is Teaching Fellow East Asian and International Political Economy, University of Bristol)

(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/italy-joins-chinas-belt-and-road-initiative-heres-how-it-exposes-cracks-in-europe-and-the-g7-114039">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

 
&nbsp;

By Winnie King Italy is projected to be the first G7 nation to officially endorse China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). And that’s raising the ire of both the European Union and the United States.

By Winnie King Italy is projected to be the first G7 nation to officially endorse China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). And that’s raising the ire of both the European Union and the United States. Having re-entered a recession at the end of 2018, the eurozone’s third largest economy is welcoming China’s President Xi Jinping for a three-day state visit. While there, Italy is expected to sign a memorandum of understanding – making it the 124th nation to sign up for this geographically expansive infrastructure and investment strategy. Proposed in 2013, China’s BRI is a transcontinental project that focuses on infrastructure investment and projects that promote regional cooperation, development and connectivity. It offers participants a means to secure their trade, energy and transport network. China presents it as a win-win relationship aimed at mutual growth. But there are suspicions regarding China’s motivations – it’s seen as a way for China to embed its global influence – and it could make participants dependent on China. Today the BRI is linked to two-thirds of the world’s population, and has to-date seen an investment of more than $1 trillion. The Italian job While the current Italian government has not been fully unified toward China, a severe economic downturn has made the world’s second-largest economy look more appealing to it. Alberto Bradanini, Italy’s former ambassador to China, has stressed that Europe’s own indecision and inability to tackle trade deficits with China (of which Italy contributed approximately €176m, or an eighth of the EU’s total trade deficit) is a key motivator behind this decision. Italy wants to enhance its “Made in Italy” brand through increasing trade – especially in the form of exports – to China. The BRI is seen as a vehicle to achieve this. Italy offers goods (in particular luxury goods and foodstuffs) that are attractive to China’s growing middle class and increasingly affluent population. China is also interested in investing in Italian firms. More significant, however, are Italy’s key infrastructure assets. This would enhance the transport and trading network of the BRI, giving it strategic access to Europe. Less than 2 per cent of Italy’s sea imports come from China so there are substantial prospects for growth in that area. A deal between Genoa’s port authority and shipping firm China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) has already been approved by the Italian government. And the port city of Trieste hopes for something similar. This would offer China and the BRI a more direct route to move goods onto the European continent and an ideal hub for accessing new rail lines and transport networks to Germany, Austria, Slovenia and other regional economies. By giving China access to its ports, Italy is hoping for infrastructure investment from China’s Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) – something the Italian government is trying to link to its role in the BRI. With the port city of Palermo due to be part of Xi’s itinerary, it is clear that China is focused on European shipping terminal options. Following Algeria’s joining of the BRI in mid-2018, Palermo could help establish a new North African trade corridor. Disunity and discontent The international response to Italy’s decision has been, at best, mixed. Germany and France have led the charge, raising concerns of China’s poor reputation regarding transparency, unfair BRI practices of favouring Chinese firms, as well as Chinese protectionism restricting European firms from Chinese projects. The EU is clearly particularly concerned about what Italy’s decision means for the bloc’s China Policy. It is important to note, however, that when it comes to the BRI, Europe’s unified China’s Policy fell as early as 2017. It was then that Premier Li Keqiang’s visited Hungary and the coalition of Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC), also including Poland and the Czech Republic, signed up to the BRI. Greece, Portugal and Croatia then followed suit. The US has also derided Italy’s decision to break the G7 position on the BRI. The Trump government has labelled the BRI as a vehicle for debt trap diplomacy and accused the BRI of being nothing but a vanity project. The growing tensions between China and the US do not help matters. The two sides are locked in a trade war and US charges of espionage against Chinese tech firm Huawei encapsulate its fears over Chinese investment in strategic industries and acquisitions. But traditional alliances seem to have fallen to the wayside, as Telecom Italia has agreed to remain partnered with Huawei. The full impact of Xi’s visit to Italy will become more clear come April 9 when Brussels is scheduled to host an EU-China summit. In the build-up, however, the EU’s increasingly China-sceptic leadership has published an official strategy document labelling China a “systemic rival”. Targeting the BRI specifically, it calls upon member states to work together to pressure the Chinese for more accountability and greater transparency in the area of infrastructure and investment projects. Furthermore, on March 18th the EU tabled a proposal calling upon all member states to ban Chinese firms from bidding on public procurement projects. Italy’s status as a G7 country is a coup for the Chinese leadership and the legitimacy of the BRI. While the prospect of Italy’s participation underscores growing fault lines in the EU’s joint approach to China, China has also been effective at dividing and conquering EU member states by targeting them individually. So Italy’s decision to join the BRI is significant. But four years ago we saw Italy, France and Germany join China’s AIIB, contrary to US wishes. Therefore, Italy is neither the first, nor will it be the last European economy that will “go rogue” and follow its own national interest with regard to China. (Winnie King is Teaching Fellow East Asian and International Political Economy, University of Bristol) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Italy joins China’s Belt and Road Initiative – here’s how it exposes cracks in Europe and the G7

Foreign ministers from Group of Seven leading industrialized nations on Monday united to condemn Russia for what they called "a pattern of irresponsible and destabilising" behaviour and urged Moscow to help resolve the conflict in Syria.

The ministers agreed to create a working group to study Russia's "malign behaviour" and said they were working on a plan to improve coordination to push back against foreign interference in elections.

"We call on Russia to cease this behaviour, which is highly detrimental to prospects for constructive cooperation," the G7 foreign ministers said in a joint statement.

The two-day meeting in Toronto was meant to prepare for a G7 leaders'&nbsp;summit in Charlevoix, Quebec on June 7-8.

US&nbsp;intelligence agencies have said Russia meddled in the 2016 US&nbsp;presidential election campaign, and Russia is also blamed for a nerve agent attack on a former Russian spy in Britain last month, which the G7 statement strongly condemned. Moscow has denied involvement in either event.

Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said G7 ministers expressed deep concern about Russia's efforts to destabilise democracies by interfering in elections.

"The G7 countries are committed to preventing, stopping and responding to foreign interference," she told a news conference at the end of talks.

"There are consequences for those who seek to undermine our democracies," she said, adding there was clear unity among G7 allies on Russia.

Later, Freeland told reporters the G7 would soon detail a plan on improved coordination among member states when faced with foreign interference.

"Coordinated action and cooperation are needed to build resilience and reinforce our democratic institutions and process against foreign interference by state and non-state actors," Freeland told reporters.

"There is a concern within the G7 countries that authoritarian states are actively working to undermine democratic systems ... today we said `enough is enough`," she added.

The challenge for the G7 is that it also needs Moscow`s help to resolve the crisis in Syria, where Russia and Iran are backing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Acting US&nbsp;Secretary of State John Sullivan called on Moscow to stop creating impediments to peace in Syria and to play a role in ending the seven-year-long conflict.

"Russia must be a constructive partner in Syria or will be held accountable," he told reporters.

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, speaking to reporters on the margins of the meeting, said G7 ministers had agreed on the need to be vigilant about Russia.&nbsp;

"What we decided ... was that we were going to set up a G7 group that would look at Russian malign behaviour in all its manifestations - whether it`s cyber warfare, whether it`s disinformation, assassination attempts, whatever it happens to be, and collectively try to call it out," he told reporters.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said the meeting established "again that there will be no political solution in Syria without Russia ... and that Russia has to contribute its share to such a solution."

The G7 meeting is the first high-level gathering of the allies since the United States, France and Britain launched 105 missiles targeting chemical weapons facilities in Syria in retaliation for a suspected poison gas attack on April 7.

The Western countries blame Assad for the attack that killed dozens of people. The Syrian government and its Russian ally deny involvement or using poison gas on April 7.

While supporting the air strikes, the G7 statement said they were "limited, proportionate and necessary - and taken only after exhausting every possible diplomatic option to uphold the international norm against the use of chemical weapons."&nbsp;

Maas also said the leaders of France and Germany would urge US&nbsp;President Donald Trump in separate meetings this week not to pull out of an Iran nuclear deal with major powers.&nbsp;

Trump has given the European signatories of the deal a May 12 deadline to "fix the terrible flaws" of the 2015 nuclear agreement, or he will refuse to extend US&nbsp;sanctions relief on Iran.

The agreement offered Tehran relief from sanctions in exchange for curbing its nuclear programme.

"We accept that Iranian behaviour has been disruptive in the region, we accept the president has some valid points that need to be addressed, but we believe they are capable of being addressed (inside the deal)," said Johnson.

The G7 meeting took place several miles from where the driver of a van killed at least nine people and injured 16 when he ploughed through a busy Toronto sidewalk on Monday, according to police, hospital officials and a Reuters witness.

G7 foreign ministers called it 'a pattern of irresponsible and destabilising' behaviour and urged Moscow to help resolve the conflict in Syria

Foreign ministers from Group of Seven leading industrialized nations on Monday united to condemn Russia for what they called "a pattern of irresponsible and destabilising" behaviour and urged Moscow to help resolve the conflict in Syria. The ministers agreed to create a working group to study Russia's "malign behaviour" and said they were working on a plan to improve coordination to push back against foreign interference in elections. "We call on Russia to cease this behaviour, which is highly detrimental to prospects for constructive cooperation," the G7 foreign ministers said in a joint statement. The two-day meeting in Toronto was meant to prepare for a G7 leaders' summit in Charlevoix, Quebec on June 7-8. US intelligence agencies have said Russia meddled in the 2016 US presidential election campaign, and Russia is also blamed for a nerve agent attack on a former Russian spy in Britain last month, which the G7 statement strongly condemned. Moscow has denied involvement in either event. Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said G7 ministers expressed deep concern about Russia's efforts to destabilise democracies by interfering in elections. "The G7 countries are committed to preventing, stopping and responding to foreign interference," she told a news conference at the end of talks. "There are consequences for those who seek to undermine our democracies," she said, adding there was clear unity among G7 allies on Russia. Later, Freeland told reporters the G7 would soon detail a plan on improved coordination among member states when faced with foreign interference. "Coordinated action and cooperation are needed to build resilience and reinforce our democratic institutions and process against foreign interference by state and non-state actors," Freeland told reporters. "There is a concern within the G7 countries that authoritarian states are actively working to undermine democratic systems ... today we said `enough is enough`," she added. The challenge for the G7 is that it also needs Moscow`s help to resolve the crisis in Syria, where Russia and Iran are backing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Acting US Secretary of State John Sullivan called on Moscow to stop creating impediments to peace in Syria and to play a role in ending the seven-year-long conflict. "Russia must be a constructive partner in Syria or will be held accountable," he told reporters. British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, speaking to reporters on the margins of the meeting, said G7 ministers had agreed on the need to be vigilant about Russia. "What we decided ... was that we were going to set up a G7 group that would look at Russian malign behaviour in all its manifestations - whether it`s cyber warfare, whether it`s disinformation, assassination attempts, whatever it happens to be, and collectively try to call it out," he told reporters. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said the meeting established "again that there will be no political solution in Syria without Russia ... and that Russia has to contribute its share to such a solution." The G7 meeting is the first high-level gathering of the allies since the United States, France and Britain launched 105 missiles targeting chemical weapons facilities in Syria in retaliation for a suspected poison gas attack on April 7. The Western countries blame Assad for the attack that killed dozens of people. The Syrian government and its Russian ally deny involvement or using poison gas on April 7. While supporting the air strikes, the G7 statement said they were "limited, proportionate and necessary - and taken only after exhausting every possible diplomatic option to uphold the international norm against the use of chemical weapons." Maas also said the leaders of France and Germany would urge US President Donald Trump in separate meetings this week not to pull out of an Iran nuclear deal with major powers. Trump has given the European signatories of the deal a May 12 deadline to "fix the terrible flaws" of the 2015 nuclear agreement, or he will refuse to extend US sanctions relief on Iran. The agreement offered Tehran relief from sanctions in exchange for curbing its nuclear programme. "We accept that Iranian behaviour has been disruptive in the region, we accept the president has some valid points that need to be addressed, but we believe they are capable of being addressed (inside the deal)," said Johnson. The G7 meeting took place several miles from where the driver of a van killed at least nine people and injured 16 when he ploughed through a busy Toronto sidewalk on Monday, according to police, hospital officials and a Reuters witness.

G7 foreign ministers condemn Russia's 'irresponsible, destabilising' behaviour in Syria

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