Biden arrives in Europe ahead of G7 and Nato summits

President Joe Biden waves to the media as he walks to board Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland (Susan Walsh/AP)

US President Joe Biden is out to sustain the global alliance punishing Russia for its invasion of Ukraine as he embarks on a five-day trip to Europe as the four-month-old war shows no sign of abating and its aftershocks to global food and energy supplies are deepening.

Mr Biden will first join a meeting of the Group of Seven leading economic powers in the Bavarian Alps of Germany and will later travel to Madrid for a summit with leaders of the 30 Nato countries.