Trump Signals Thaw at G7 Summit, New Progress on Ukraine
EU and G7 leaders on Wednesday jointly pledged support for Ukraine and imposed new sanctions on Russia, with President Trump telling the summit 'I'm the boss.'
The remarks came during the G7 summit held in Évian-les-Bains, France from June 15-17, following a joint statement that could further strengthen Ukraine's leverage in potential peace negotiations with Russia.
Ukrainian President Zelensky and his allies sought to convince Trump that Ukraine's counteroffensive is making headway and that Russia cannot dominate terms in any peace deal.
The joint statement and leaders' comments indicate that Trump, after years of skepticism, is increasingly aligning with Zelensky's arguments. French President Macron said this reflects a 'real change in attitude' by the U.S. on Ukraine and called the summit 'a success.' In contrast, last year's summit in Canada failed to reach a common position on Ukraine.
Italian Prime Minister Meloni said leaders found 'common ground with Trump, which was not always a given.' Canadian Prime Minister Carney praised the U.S. and Trump for a 'shift in stance.'
Last year, Trump left the G7 summit a day early due to Middle East tensions. This time, he attended the full event and was to later head to the Palace of Versailles for dinner. The summit produced joint declarations on Ukraine, AI, critical minerals, and other issues, much to the relief of leaders.
However, any prospect of forcing Moscow to participate in peace talks still depends on Trump's commitments, which can often be unpredictable.
'I'm the boss,' Trump told fellow leaders and reporters as he took his seat at the global economic security meeting.
Trump's Iran Deal Sets Tone for Negotiations
G7 leaders also welcomed the preliminary peace agreement between the U.S. and Iran, offering to help implement it, though Trump made no specific commitments on the roles various parties might play.
European allies worry that an inexperienced U.S. negotiating team may fail to secure a solid nuclear agreement in the next phase or address Iran's ballistic missile program, leading to prolonged confrontation.
Meanwhile, Trump emphasized that the memorandum of understanding with Iran is not a final deal, and the U.S. may resume bombing if commitments are not met.
'If I don't like it, if they're not honest, we'll resume bombing immediately and drop bombs right on top of their heads,' he said.
While European allies publicly expressed support for the preliminary agreement, diplomats warn that securing a lasting deal on Iran's nuclear program, ballistic missiles, and support for proxy forces in the Middle East will be no easy task.
