BREAKING: The G7 closes ranks around Ukraine with a tougher Trump against Russia
International Report:
Global attention remains focused on this evolving story as officials and analysts assess the broader implications.
G7 leaders on Wednesday hailed unity to increase pressure on Russia and end its war in Ukraine, sensing a shift by US President Donald Trump toward a tougher stance against Moscow. The three-day meeting in the French city of Évian focused intensely on Trump’s deal to end the war with Iran and efforts to pressure Russia to negotiate peace with Ukraine through tougher sanctions. There was a major breakthrough in the Middle East, with Trump signing a memorandum of understanding aimed at closing the months-long conflict with Tehran. Read alsoTrump and Pezeshkian officially sign the text of the memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran The leaders of the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States also agreed on a final declaration that included references to the war in Ukraine, in contrast to the 2025 meeting, when Trump left the meeting early. “It was hard work, but it was worth it,” said German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who described the declaration as a “success.” In addition to increasing the supply of air defense equipment to Ukraine, the leaders agreed to “increase pressure on the Russian war economy” by strengthening sanctions, including those targeting Moscow’s revenue from fossil fuels, the statement said. French President Emmanuel Macron hailed a “very profound change in the US approach” toward Ukraine, saying Trump had understood that Russian President Vladimir Putin was not interested in peace. “President Trump, like all of us, simply recognized that today there is no serious willingness on the part of Russia to discuss peace,” Macron said. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated that on Ukraine there was “a lot of convergence, something that is not always evident,” and that there were “no frictions or divergences.” Throughout the summit, which was attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump adopted a tougher stance towards Moscow, stating that Russia should seek an agreement and showing impatience with the number of victims on both sides. G7 leaders also agreed to license Ukraine-based companies to produce long-range missiles and air defense systems, according to a diplomatic source. In his latest press conference, Trump praised his conversations with Zelensky in Évian and a recent phone call with Putin. “They both want to do something, they just don’t know how to do it,” he said. AI Talks Over lunch on Wednesday, digital took center stage, with some European G7 members pushing to strengthen security and protect minors in a rapidly changing world, moves that have irritated the United States. In attendance were Sam Altman, director of artificial intelligence giant OpenAI; Dario Amodei, head of Anthropic; Demis Hassabis, founder of Google’s DeepMind AI lab; and Arthur Mensch, from its European rival Mistral AI. G7 leaders called on tech companies to “develop and implement technology and systems that ensure safe, secure and age-appropriate experiences,” according to a joint statement. Macron called for “better regulation” of AI and warned of the risk of “lack of cooperation between democracies.” Altman warned leaders “not to hand over their responsibilities” for AI to the companies that are developing it. “A lot of gold” U.S. President Donald Trump receives a guided tour of the Palace of Versailles from French President Emmanuel Macron before a dinner, in France, June 17, 2026. © Anna Moneymaker, Reuters Trump was the center of attention throughout his stay at the lakeside resort. French officials were pleased that the unpredictable American president remained throughout the event and signed the G7 communiqué. In an unusual gesture, Macron invited Trump to dinner at the Palace of Versailles, outside Paris, after the summit ended. Macron and his wife Brigitte hosted Trump on Wednesday night at the lavish former royal residence, after Trump expressed excitement and said Versailles had “a lot of gold” and he wanted to “take a look.” Macron organized a private visit for Trump that included the Gallery of Mirrors, a gallery dedicated to the American War of Independence, and a concert at the Royal Chapel. During the candlelit dinner in the sumptuous Lower Gallery, Trump signed the memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the war in the Middle East, while Macron and other guests applauded, according to a video posted by a Trump adviser. About 30 guests attended the dinner, including Bernard Arnault, head of luxury conglomerate LVMH, and Patrick Pouyanné, CEO of TotalEnergies. Macron, under pressure to show he was not fawning over Trump, had earlier said the evening was not a “gala” dinner. Trump spent about three hours at the palace, where he also had a telephone conversation in which Macron and Zelensky participated, according to French officials. Trump stressed that he was willing to resume military action if Tehran did not meet its obligations. “If you don’t behave, we will drop bombs right in the middle of your heads again,” he said. Although Macron was formally chairing the summit, the US president made it clear who he thought was in charge when he arrived for the third and final day. “I’m the boss,” Trump said before taking his seat. This article is an adaptation of its original in English
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The situation could have broader implications for regional stability, international relations, and global markets.
Observers believe further developments could significantly shape the direction of this story in the near future.
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Source: This article was originally published by France 24 – Noticias y actualidad internacional en vivo and adapted for our international English-speaking audience.
Read the original article here.