Leaders of the G7 industrial nations are meeting in Brussels, with the Ukraine crisis set to dominate talks.
It is their first meeting since Russia was removed from the club following its annexation of Crimea in March.
Earlier in Poland, US President Barack Obama pledged US support for Kiev and warned Moscow against what he called its 'dark tactics' in Ukraine.
He is on a three-state European tour ending with the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings in France on Friday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin will also be at the ceremony.
The two leaders have no meeting scheduled but Mr Putin said he was ready for dialogue.
Polish anniversary
The leaders gathered in Brussels on Wednesday evening for the summit's opening dinner.
UK Prime Minister David Cameron said he expected the G7 to send a clear message of support for Ukraine, as well as calling for Russia to seek a diplomatic solution to the crisis.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned that Russia could face further sanctions if it failed to stop destabilisation in eastern Ukraine.
The summit was originally to have been held in the Russian city of Sochi.
Speaking in Warsaw earlier to mark 25 years since the fall of communism in Poland, Mr Obama hailed Polish democracy as a beacon for neighbouring Ukraine.
He also met Ukraine President-elect Petro Poroshenko, and pledged support for plans to restore peace to the country.
Mr Obama called Mr Poroshenko a 'wise selection' to lead Ukraine, and said the nation could become a vibrant, thriving democracy if the world community stood behind it.
But he also condemned what he called Russian 'aggression' in eastern Ukraine,
'How can we allow the dark tactics of the 20th Century to define the 21st?' he said.
Mr Obama pledged $5m (£3m) of military assistance to Kiev including body armour and night-vision goggles.
The aid follows $18m promised since early March for food, clothes, radios and other equipment.
Mr Poroshenko, a billionaire sweet manufacturer, was elected in May.
He will be at the D-Day commemorations ahead of his inauguration on Saturday.
There are no plans for him to meet Mr Putin, but both men have said they are prepared to meet.
Meanwhile, on the ground in Ukraine, separatist rebels have taken two military bases in the eastern region of Luhansk.
Separatists seized a border guard base after days of fierce combat, and a National Guard base after an attack which began on Tuesday.
Fighting continues near the towns of Krasny Liman and Sloviansk in neighbouring Donetsk region.
Ukrainian sources say rebels are trying to break out of encirclements by government forces.
Posted by Unknown on Wednesday, June 4, 2014 - Rating: 4.5
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