Putin meets with ASEAN leaders in Russia as G7 vow 'unwavering' support for Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Russia, signaling Moscow's ongoing efforts to build international ties amid the Ukraine conflict. This comes on the heels of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's meeting with G7 leaders in France, where they agreed to bolster Ukraine's air defense and implement new sanctions against Moscow. The G7's "unwavering" support for Ukraine underscores the global stakes in the conflict, highlighting the geopolitical tug-of-war as Russia seeks to expand its diplomatic influence.