WESTERN PERSPECTIVE
G7 abandons joint Ukraine statement as Zelenskiy says diplomacy in crisis
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy leaves the Group of Seven summit on Tuesday with new aid from host Canada for its war against Russia but without a joint statement of support from members or a chance to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump.
The G7 wealthy nations struggled to find unity over the conflict in Ukraineafter Trump expressed support for Russian President Vladimir Putin and left a day early to address the Israel-Iran conflict from Washington.
Canada dropped plans for the G7 to issue a strong statement on the war in Ukraine after resistance from the United States, a Canadian official told reporters.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Ottawa would provide C$2 billion ($1.47 billion) in new military assistance for Kyiv as well as impose new financial sanctions.
Zelenskiy said he had told the G7 leaders that "diplomacy is now in a state of crisis" and said they need to continue calling on Trump "to use his real influence" to force an end to the war, in a post on his Telegram account.
Although Canada is one of Ukraine's most vocal defenders, its ability to help it is far outweighed by the United States, the largest arms supplier to Kyiv. Zelenskiy had said he hoped to talk to Trump about acquiring more weapons.
After the summit in the Rocky Mountain resort area of Kananaskis concluded, Carney issued a chair statement summarizing deliberations.
"G7 leaders expressed support for President Trump’s efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine," the statement said.
"They recognized that Ukraine has committed to an unconditional ceasefire, and they agreed that Russia must do the same. G7 Leaders are resolute in exploring all options to maximize pressure on Russia, including financial sanctions."
Canada holds the rotating G7 presidency this year. Other leaders do not need to sign off on G7 chair statements.
"There would be things that some of us, Canada, included, would say above and beyond what was said in the chair summary," Carney said at a closing news conference.
Trump did agree to a group statement published on Monday calling for a resolution of the Israel-Iran conflict.
"We had a declaration given the exceptional, fast moving situation in Iran," Carney said. "We concentrated on that as a specific one. I held this (Ukraine)for my chair summary."
A European official said leaders had stressed to Trump their plans to be hard on Russia and Trump seemed impressed, though he does not like sanctions in principle.
Three European diplomats said they had heard signals from Trump that he wanted to raise pressure on Putin and consider a U.S. Senate bill drafted bySenator Lindsey Graham, but that he had not committed to anything.
"I am returning to Germany with cautious optimism that decisions will also be made in America in the coming days to impose further sanctions against Russia," German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said.
G7 leaders agreed on six other statements, about migrant smuggling, artificial intelligence, critical minerals, wildfires, transnational repression and quantum computing.
KREMLIN SAYS G7 LOOKS 'RATHER USELESS'
Trump said on Monday he needed to be back in Washington as soon as possible due to the situation in the Middle East, where escalating attacks between Iran and Israel have raised risks of a broader regional conflict.
A White House official on Tuesday said Trump explained that he returned to the U.S. because it is better to hold high-level National Security Council meetings in person, rather than over the phone.
Upon arriving at the summit, Trump said that the then-Group of Eight had been wrong to expel Russia after Putin ordered the occupation of Crimea in 2014.
The Kremlin said on Tuesday that Trump was right and said the G7 was no longer significant for Russia and looked "rather useless."
Many leaders had hoped to negotiate trade deals with Trump, but the only deal signed was the finalization of the U.S.-UK deal announced last month. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent remained at the summit after Trump left.
Carney also invited non-G7 members Mexico, India, Australia, South Africa, South Korea and Brazil, as he tries to shore up alliances elsewhere and diversify Canada's exports away from the United States.
Carney warmly welcomed Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on Tuesday, after two years of tense relations between Canada and India.
RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE
Trump snubs Zelensky meeting
US President Donald Trump has left the G7 summit in Canada early, despite having a scheduled meeting with Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky, the White House has said, citing the recent escalation in the Middle East.
White House Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Monday that the US leader is departing the gathering in Kananaskis, Alberta, “so he can attend to many important matters.” She also wrote on X that Trump “had a great day at the G7,” but “because of what’s going on in the Middle East, [he] will be leaving tonight after dinner with Heads of State.”
Zelensky had been scheduled to meet Trump on the sidelines of the summit in what was widely perceived as an opportunity to urge the US to ramp up sanctions against Russia and approve more weapons shipments to Kiev.
Trump, however, has been reluctant to increase pressure on Moscow, with media reports suggesting that he is frustrated with both Ukraine and Russia, and is considering withdrawing from the peace process altogether.
French President Emmanuel Macron suggested that Trump’s early departure was linked to ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Iran. “There is indeed an offer to meet and exchange,” Macron said. “The US assured they will find a ceasefire, and since they can pressure Israel, things may change.”
Trump, however, pushed back on the claim shortly afterward, rebuking “publicity seeking”Macron for what he saw as disseminating falsehoods. “He has no idea why I am now on my way to Washington, but it certainly has nothing to do with a Cease Fire. Much bigger than that,” he wrote on the Truth Social network.
The recent Middle East escalation kicked off after US–Iran talks on a potential nuclear deal ended up at an impasse. Iran has dismissed a US demand to completely eliminate its uranium enrichment capabilities while not ruling out a potential agreement in itself. Tehran has also insisted it is not seeking to create a nuclear weapon, and that its atomic program is for peaceful purposes only.
As the diplomatic process stalled, Israel last week launched several waves of strikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites, killing top commanders and nuclear scientists.
Iran retaliated with massive missile strikes on Israel, while the US has backed West Jerusalem’s right to self-defense while reinforcing its assets in the region to protect its long-time ally. Washington, nevertheless, urged Tehran to return to talks.
Reuters/RT
