World leaders in Japan, China as a negotiator, and grain deal deadline: What to watch for this week.

While the battle for Bakhmut, a largely ruined metropolis the place tens of hundreds of troopers are believed to have died, continues to rage after Ukraine made some good points for the primary time in months, world leaders are planning a number of efforts within the coming days to search out new diplomatic avenues for ending the struggle.

Later this week, leaders from the Group of seven nations — the United States, Japan, Canada, Britain, France, Germany and Italy, in addition to the European Union — can be gathering in Hiroshima, Japan, for a weekend of conferences. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is on the agenda.

“Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is a challenge to the rule-based international order, and the G7 has responded in a united manner,” the group’s web site says. “The G7 will continue to strongly promote sanctions against Russia and supports for Ukraine.”

Here’s what else we’re watching this week:

• China makes a diplomatic push: The Chinese authorities’s particular consultant for Eurasian affairs, Li Hui, is scheduled to start a visit on Monday that features visits to Ukraine and Russia, a part of an try to assist negotiate an finish to the struggle, a Chinese authorities spokesman mentioned final week. Beijing mentioned that Mr. Li would “conduct in-depth communication with all parties” to attempt to attain a “political settlement.”

• Black Sea grain deal: The way forward for the grain deal that has allowed Ukraine to export hundreds of thousands of tons of grain from its Black Sea ports, regardless of Russia’s management of the waterways, stays unsure. Russia has threatened to not lengthen the settlement after it expires on Thursday. Representatives from Ukraine, Russia, the United Nations and Turkey met final week in Istanbul, however there was no breakthrough on an extension. The events agreed to maintain speaking on-line.

• Raising consciousness: Brittney Griner, a middle for the Phoenix Mercury, can be taking part in her first official sport in almost two years when the 2023 W.N.B.A. season begins on Friday. She missed your entire 2022 season as a result of she was imprisoned in Russia for almost 10 months on drug expenses. She was launched in December in a prisoner change. The Mercury and Griner have partnered with the Bring Our Families Home marketing campaign to help others being held abroad, like Evan Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal reporter.