The Group of Seven (G7) leaders have threatened to strengthen sanctions against Russia, if the situation in eastern Ukraine worsens.
An official at the their meeting in southern Germany, said on Monday the G7 leaders also agreed to back a binding target to limit global warming to 2 degrees Celsius.
The agreement represented a significant win for German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, who had joined French President, Francois Hollande, in calling on the G7 leaders to support efforts to tackle global warming.
Both Merkel and Hollande are keen to avoid a repeat of a 2009 conference in Copenhagen, which ended in disarray and was seen as a setback for attempts to address global warming.
The leaders of the world’s major economies have also expressed their determination to demonstrate solidarity in the face of what U.S. President, Barack Obama, called “Russian aggression in Ukraine.”
Echoing Obama’s remarks, Merkel told a local broadcaster on Sunday that: “I’m assuming that we will send a united signal from here.
“Sanctions can only be lifted if the conditions under which they were imposed are no longer there and the problems have been solved.
Global warming topped the agenda on the summit’s final day.
As a former environment minister and a trained scientist, Merkel has supported action on climate change through most of her political career.
Germany currently holds the rotating presidency of the G7, which in addition to the US also includes Britain, Italy, Canada, Japan and France.
Monday’s G7 summit was also attended by the leaders of Iraq and key African nations – Tunisia, Algeria, Nigeria and Senegal.
The G7 has turned its focus to combating terrorism, economic development and the role of women.
The leaders are also thought to have discussed with African leaders, discussed the Mediterranean refugee crisis, which has emerged as a major issue in Europe.
(dpa/NAN)