The G-7 the U.S., Canada, France, Britain, Germany, Italy and Japan is widely considered one of the world's more exclusive political clubs, and the possibility of South Korea getting a seat at the table is prompting urgent but hushed debate in Seoul coffee shops - and beyond.
The White House on Friday said President Biden still expects to travel to Japan for the Group of Seven leaders meeting next week as debt-ceiling negotiations drag on at home.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pleaded with the West to provide an "air shield" over his country after another wave of Russian attacks killed at least 19 people Tuesday, while the U.S. and its allies warned Moscow that further escalation will be met with "severe consequences."
The U.S. and other economically powerful democracies vowed to back Ukraine for "as long as it takes" Monday, promising to expand sanctions on Russia and increase sophisticated weapons deliveries amid a resurgence of missile attacks by Russian forces, including the first strikes in weeks that have hit civilian targets in Kyiv.
In a week of high-stakes diplomacy, President Biden scored largely symbolic wins during his meeting in Germany with the leaders of the seven largest global economies as he fell short of achieving his ambitious goals for the summit.