Wives and partners of the G7 leaders have held their own summit, one somewhat more active than the tense diplomatic talks going on in the halls of the Schloss Elmau alpine resort.
As Boris Johnson and his global counterparts met for discussions over the war in Ukraine, his wife Carrie and the spouses of other premiers chatted in the sunshine as they tried a spot of Nordic walking.
She was joined by Britta Ernst, wife of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Amelie Derbaudrenghien, partner of EU Council President Michel, and Brigitte Macron, wife of French president Macron.
Ms Ernst – a politician in her own right as education minister of the eastern German state of Brandenburg – took her guests on a Nordic walk with former professional skiers Christian Neureuther and Miriam Neureuther.
Miriam Neureuther is a former German biathlete and cross-country skier who won Olympic silver medal in cross-country skiing and two biathlon world championship titles, while Christian Neureuther is a former World Cup alpine ski racer who competed for West Germany in three Winter Olympics.
The group were seen smiling and talking as they took on the brisk, sunny walk on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to call on G7 leaders today to do more to support his country’s fight against Russia.
Mr Zelenskyy will address world leaders, including Boris Johnson and Joe Biden, via video link from Kyiv after he urged allies to be “partners not observers” in his nightly address on Sunday.
Mr Johnson will use Monday’s session in Germany to call for urgent action to help get grain supplies out of Ukraine, with countries across the world suffering from shortages.
