On March 24, Brussels hosted three summits at once — NATO, the European Union, and the G7. The leaders of Western nations spent the day in the Belgian capital tackling the full range of urgent issues, from the Ukraine conflict to the global food crisis.
Ukraine
Ukraine dominated discussions across all three gatherings. President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed both the G7 and NATO summits. In his remarks to the G7, he pressed for new sanctions on Russia every week.
He called for a complete embargo on trade with Russia, the withdrawal of GPS access from Russian operations, and a total blockade of Russian banks from the global financial system, as he outlined in his speech.
Zelensky also urged the G7 to participate in creating a new system of security guarantees for Ukraine and asked for continued arms support and active participation in rebuilding efforts. At the NATO summit, he insisted on military assistance with no restrictions, estimating that the alliance could provide about 1% of its tanks and aircraft to Kyiv.
He noted that Ukraine had requested warplanes and tanks on both refundable and non-refundable terms but had not received a clear answer. He described the lack of decisive responses as the worst aspect of the war.
Following the NATO talks, French President Emmanuel Macron pledged ongoing European aid — economic, military, and humanitarian — to Ukraine. Macron also reminded that more than 3.5 million Ukrainian refugees are already in Europe and in need of support.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz affirmed that the G7 would mobilize its influence as a leading advanced economy to push Russia toward a diplomatic resolution. He highlighted that all partners had adopted broad sanctions packages and would enforce them, anticipating their impact in the near term.
The Ukraine issue was also raised at a press conference with U.S. President Joe Biden. He cautioned that Ukraine is unlikely to cede territory to resolve the situation, stressing the principle of inclusivity with the line, Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine.
Russia
Biden devoted substantial remarks to Russia, saying President Vladimir Putin has aimed to fracture NATO since the start. He warned that the United States and its NATO allies would respond if Russia uses chemical weapons, with the response tailored to the nature of the attack.
One of Biden’s notable statements supported excluding Russia from the G20. He also suggested inviting Ukraine to participate in G20 meetings if Russia cannot be expelled. He indicated that Ukraine could attend as an observer country should consensus fail on that step, depending on broader diplomatic considerations.
gas for ruble
EU officials weighed the controversial proposal to pay for Russian gas in rubles, a move announced by Vladimir Putin the day before. Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša stated that Europe would not pay for Russian gas in rubles.
Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi described Russia’s ruble-based gas payments as a breach of contract, warning that any such shift would be treated as contract violation. German Chancellor Scholz reminded attendees that most gas contracts are settled in dollars or euros.
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo suggested that changing the currency in gas contracts might open room to renegotiate energy prices. He emphasized that his priority is lower prices and acknowledged European Commission recommendations to curb gas costs. De Croo stressed that the EU does not seek a total rejection of Russian oil and gas, arguing sanctions should inflict meaningful pain on Russia, not on Europe.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a renewed energy partnership with the United States, including additional U.S. LNG to the EU under conditions previously proposed by Russia. She stated that a new page would open in energy cooperation, with more LNG supply from the United States to replace what has come from Russia.
food crisis
President Biden pointed to the Ukraine war and sanctions as factors that could drive a global food shortfall. He warned that the measures are affecting prices and availability, stressing that the United States and Canada stand ready to help mitigate food insecurity worldwide.
French President Macron proposed an emergency plan to counter the looming food crisis by accelerating use of strategic food stocks and preventing price spikes. He called for a multilateral agreement to avoid restricting the supply of agricultural inputs from Russia and Ukraine, which are major grain suppliers for many regions, including Africa and the Middle East. He warned that in the short term some countries will face difficulties, with more serious challenges emerging within 12 to 18 months.
Macron’s remarks underscored the interconnected nature of energy, security, and food supply in the current geopolitical landscape, and he urged coordinated action to stabilize markets and ensure stable access to essential commodities for vulnerable regions.