G7 agree to 'starve the Russian war machine'

International summits are a curious mix of the theatrical, diplomatic and administrative. Firstly, their scale. They are a huge undertaking, with massive security.

Little wonder: a collection of world leaders, in the same place, at the same time, at a long before advertised event. And so the skies swarm with helicopters.

The streets are packed with lanyard wearing attendees, clutching their all-important accreditation for fear that without it, even crossing a road might prove impossible.

I spotted two of my colleagues in the travelling British press pack out on a jog earlier, in the driving rain. Shorts and T shirts on, yellow G7 lanyards still hanging around their necks.

Pity the poor residents of Hiroshima suddenly unable to take their normal route to work or wherever, because of road closures.

At the heart of politics are people. Personal relationships matter in politics and diplomacy just as they do in any other walk of life.

And politicians, in particular, have audiences back home to address, images to burnish and impressions to leave.

And so there are the theatrical moments, such as Rishi Sunak wearing the red socks of the Hiroshima Toyo Carp baseball team, whose fans include the host of the Summit - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

Then, there is the diplomacy. In the weeks and months before a summit, diplomats for each country discuss their own outlooks and those of others, to try to find common ground.

These diplomats are known as sherpas. They lead the way to the Summit.

The political leaders then come together for a marathon series of talks – in big groups and one on one – and at the end, usually, what emerges is called a communique – the agreed conclusions.

Often broad, often vague, they attempt to take account of every country’s position, emphasis and focus, on various issues. The aim being ongoing discussions can build upon them.