G7 focuses – On the first full day of the Group of Seven summit in Evian-les-Bains, leaders are focusing on Russia’s war in Ukraine and on a tentative U.S. path to end the conflict with Iran. President Donald Trump said he plans to shift back to Ukraine after announcing an
Leaders of the Group of Seven gathered Tuesday in the French town of Evian-les-Bains for the first full day of meetings with one message threaded through nearly every conversation: the war in Ukraine is back at the center. but it is being weighed against a new. tentative deal U.S. President Donald Trump says has moved the Iran track toward an end.
Trump arrived late Monday and said in the aftermath of a bilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron that he would refocus on Ukraine. “Now that this (Iran) is finished, we’re going to be focusing on that,” Trump said.
Macron. meanwhile. said he will seek to persuade Trump to continue supporting Ukraine and increase pressure on Russia to help reach a peace agreement more than four years after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the war. Macron’s push comes as the G7 sits with uncertainty over what any new U.S. approach might mean for the effort to bring Moscow and Kyiv to negotiations.
Trump pointed to a series of conversations he had shortly after arriving. He said he had good conversations on Sunday with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is attending the summit at France’s invitation.
Zelenskyy’s presence added urgency to the opening moments of the day’s schedule. Shortly before the first session. five of the seven leaders—representing Britain. Canada. Germany. Italy and Japan—were huddled in conversation with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen before the start of the first session on Ukraine. Trump was missing at that point. Macron also hadn’t arrived yet because he was with Zelenskyy.
That working rhythm reflected the day’s wider agenda. In addition to Ukraine. leaders were set to have a working session focused on ending crises and ensuring stability in the Middle East. They were expected to discuss the global economic crisis resulting from the war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Egypt, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates were set to join the talks.
The Iran-related news landed just before Trump’s arrival. Shortly before he reached Evian-les-Bains, Trump announced an agreement to end the 3 1/2-month-old U.S. war against Iran.
The G7 summit brings together France, the United States, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom. Guest nations at this summit include Brazil, Egypt, India, Kenya, South Korea, Qatar, Ukraine and the UAE.
As leaders moved through the morning working session. there was one clear division in timing: Ukraine is receiving immediate attention on the first full day. but the diplomatic cards being reshuffled by the U.S. and France are still being dealt from the Iran announcement that Trump described as “finished.” For Zelenskyy and those urging stronger pressure on Russia. the question is not whether Ukraine will be discussed—it is whether the renewed focus can translate into momentum for peace now.
G7 Evian-les-Bains Ukraine war Donald Trump Emmanuel Macron Volodymyr Zelenskyy Vladimir Putin Iran Strait of Hormuz Middle East stability