G7 hails unity on Russia as Trump signals tougher line on Moscow

G7 leaders gathered in Evian-les-Bains for a three-day summit on Wednesday, announcing unified support for intensified pressure on Russia to end its war in Ukraine, coinciding with a noticeable shift toward a tougher US position under President Donald Trump.

The summit focused heavily on Trump’s Iran deal and strategies to pressure Russia into mediating peace in Ukraine through enhanced sanctions. A significant breakthrough emerged on the Middle East, with Trump signing a memorandum of understanding aimed at resolving the prolonged conflict with Tehran.

The seven nations—Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United States—released a joint statement addressing the Ukraine conflict, marking a notable contrast to the previous year when Trump departed early.

“It was tough work but worth it,” stated German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, describing the statement as a “success”. The agreement includes measures to increase air defense supply to Ukraine and strengthen sanctions against Russia’s war economy, particularly targeting Moscow’s fossil fuel revenues.

French President Emmanuel Macron characterized a “very deep change in the US approach” toward Ukraine, asserting that Trump now recognizes Putin’s lack of genuine interest in peace. “President Trump, like all of us, simply acknowledged that there was no serious willingness on Russia’s part today to discuss peace,” Macron said.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni noted strong alignment on Ukraine matters, describing it as “a lot of convergence, which is not always obvious” with “no friction or divergence”. Throughout the summit, which included Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump maintained a firmer stance against Moscow, expressing impatience with casualty figures on both sides.

The G7 also approved licensing for Ukraine-based companies to manufacture long-range missiles and air defense systems, according to diplomatic sources. In his final press conference, Trump highlighted discussions with Zelensky in Evian and recent calls with Putin, commenting, “They both want to do something, they just don’t know how to do it.”

AI governance dominated a working lunch where European leaders advocated for enhanced protection measures for minors, drawing criticism from US officials. Tech executives including OpenAI’s Sam Altman, Anthropic’s Dario Amodei, DeepMind founder Demis Hassabis, and Mistral AI’s Arthur Mensch participated in discussions.

G7 nations called on technology companies to “develop and apply systems ensuring safe, secure, and age-appropriate experiences”, according to joint statements. Macron urged “better regulation” of AI, warning of risks from “non-cooperation between democracies”, while Altman advised leaders not to cede AI responsibility solely to developing companies.

A separate section titled ‘A lot of gold’ detailed Trump’s unusual invitation to dine at the Palace of Versailles, where Macron and his wife Brigitte hosted the US president following the summit. Trump expressed excitement about the historic site’s wealth, telling reporters the palace had “a lot of gold, I want to check it out”. The evening featured a private tour including the Hall of Mirrors and concluded with a candlelit dinner where Trump signed the Middle East memorandum of understanding.

The exclusive dinner, attended by approximately 30 guests including luxury magnate Bernard Arnault and TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanne, showcased Trump’s prominent role throughout the summit. MACRON, UNDER PRESSURE TO DEMONSTRATE HE WAS NOT FAWNING OVER TRUMP, CLARIFIED THE EVENING WAS NOT A “GALA” DINER.

Trump emphasized readiness for renewed military action against Iran if Tehran failed to comply with agreements, stating, “If they don’t behave, we’ll go right back to dropping bombs right smack in the middle of their head”. Despite Macron formally chairing the summit, Trump underscored his influence by declaring “I’m the boss” upon arriving for the final day.

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