G7 to discuss resisting ‘Russian aggression' - Obama

President Barack Obama has said "standing up to Russian aggression" in Ukraine is one of the items on the agenda of the G7 summit in Germany.

Speaking during the annual summit of leaders from the world's richest countries, which is taking place in the Bavarian Alps, he added that trade, violent extremism and climate change would also be disscussed.

Russia has been excluded from what was previously known as the G8, after the annexation of Crimea last year. Russia backs the rebels in eastern Ukraine.

There are concerns that President Vladimir Putin is deliberately building up further military pressure in Ukraine, and Russia already faces sanctions imposed by the US and European countries.

The West accuses Russia of sending military forces into eastern Ukraine to help the rebels - a charge echoed by analysts. Moscow denies this, saying any Russian soldiers there are volunteers.

Germany, Britain and the US want an agreement to offer support to any EU member state tempted to withdraw backing for the sanctions on Moscow, which are hurting the Russian economy.

ith previous summits

Putin maintains that Russia is not a threat and had "other things to worry about".

In comments to the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera Putin said that "only an insane person and only in a dream can one imagine that Russia would suddenly attack Nato.”

Obama was met in the town of Kruen by Germany's Chancellor Merkel where he outlined his priorities. "We're going to discuss our shared future, the global economy that creates jobs and opportunity, maintaining a strong and prosperous European Union, forging new trade partnerships across the Atlantic, standing up to Russian aggression in Ukraine, combating threats from violent extremism to climate change."

In the coming days, the summit is also expected to discuss militant threats from groups like Islamic State and Boko Haram with the leaders of Nigeria, Tunisia and Iraq, who are part of an "outreach" group of non-G7 countries.

Greece's debt crisis and how to tackle global warming are on the agenda too.

Thousands of protesters had marched in the nearby town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, sparking clashes with police in the build up to the summit. Several protestors required hospitalisation. The violence was, however, minor in comparison to previous summits.