Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) countries have welcomed what they described as a shift in United States President Donald Trump’s approach to the Ukraine war, agreeing on a more coordinated effort to increase pressure on Russia.
Meeting in the French resort town of Evian, leaders from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States focused heavily on the conflict in Ukraine and evolving diplomatic efforts to end the war. The summit also coincided with developments on the Middle East crisis, where Trump signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at ending hostilities with Iran.
According to the joint discussions, G7 members agreed to step up pressure on Moscow by tightening sanctions, including measures targeting Russia’s fossil fuel revenues. The leaders also committed to increasing military support for Ukraine, particularly air defence systems, as the war continues.
French President Emmanuel Macron said there had been a “very deep change” in Washington’s position, noting that Trump appeared to recognise that Russia was not currently interested in pursuing peace. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz described the final statement as a success despite difficult negotiations.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said there was broad alignment among leaders, adding that there were no significant disagreements on Ukraine at the summit.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also attended the talks, which included discussions on allowing Ukrainian firms to manufacture long-range missiles and air defence equipment with G7 licensing support.
Throughout the summit, Trump maintained a more assertive tone toward Moscow, while also referencing his recent conversations with both Ukrainian and Russian leadership, saying both sides appeared willing to engage but lacked a clear path forward.
