G7 leaders hailed on Wednesday a newfound unity on increasing pressure on Russia to end its war in Ukraine, sensing a shift by US President Donald Trump to take a tougher line against Moscow. The three-day meeting in the French town of Evian focused intensely on Trump's deal to end the war with Iran and efforts to pressure Russia into brokering peace with Ukraine through ramped-up sanctions. There was a major breakthrough on the Middle East, with Trump signing a memorandum of understanding that is meant to bring the months-long conflict with Tehran to a close. The leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States also agreed on a final statement that included references to the Ukraine war, in a contrast to last year's meeting, when Trump walked out early. "It was tough work but worth it," said German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, describing the statement as a "success".
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Cover image: © France 24
As well as increasing supplies of air defence equipment to Ukraine, the leaders agreed to "increase the pressure on the Russian war economy" by strengthening sanctions, including on Moscow's fossil fuel revenues, the statement said. French President Emmanuel Macron hailed a "very deep change in the US approach" towards Ukraine, saying Trump had understood that Russia's Vladimir Putin was not interested in peace. "President Trump, like all of us, simply acknowledged that there was no serious willingness on Russia's part today to discuss peace." Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said that on Ukraine there was "a lot of convergence, which is not always obvious" and there was "no friction or divergence". Throughout the summit, which was attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump took a harder line against Moscow, saying Russia had to seek a deal and showing impatience over the casualty toll on both sides. G7 leaders also agreed to grant licences for Ukraine-based companies to produce long-range missiles and air defence systems, a diplomatic source said. In his final news conference, Trump hailed his talks with Zelensky in Evian and a recent phone conversation with Putin. "They both want to do something, they just don't know how to do it," he commented.
