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World leaders are facing crises on all fronts. Putin will be watching if they fail

Analysis by Nic Robertson, CNN International Diplomatic EditorUpdated 0405 GMT (1205 HKT) June 25, 2022

Flags representing the G7 Summit, Germany and the European Union fly ahead of the summit, scheduled to take place at Schloss Elmau in Germany's Bavaria region from June 26 to 28.

(CNN)What a difference a year makes. Enormous challenges, some of them barely imaginable when the G7 leaders last met 12 months ago, are bearing down on the world's most prosperous democratic nations as they prepare to meet in Germany.Optimism was in the air at the Cornish beach resort of Carbis Bay in 2021 as the G7's presidents, prime ministers and chancellor met face-to-face for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic began.Together they vowed to "beat Covid-19 and build back better," to "reinvigorate economies," to "protect our planet" and to "strengthen partnerships."But global events have since overtaken their best efforts, and it is far from clear if they will be able to build on those goals this year. Russia's unprompted invasion of Ukraine is a large and singular cloud, but other thunderheads are gathering too.