EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France — Leaders from several Group of Seven nations used this week's summit in France to press the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump to keep Ukraine high on its foreign policy agenda, as Kyiv sought additional support and Western governments discussed new measures aimed at increasing pressure on Russia.
The issue featured prominently during meetings at the June 15-17 summit, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy joined leaders for discussions on the conflict. European officials said they wanted to ensure that attention on Ukraine was not overshadowed by recent diplomatic efforts involving Iran and other international crises.
French President Emmanuel Macron said he intended to encourage Trump to maintain support for Ukraine and increase pressure on Russia in pursuit of a negotiated settlement. According to Reuters, European leaders also sought to persuade the U.S. administration to reassess elements of its approach toward the conflict as diplomatic efforts continued.
Trump signaled renewed engagement on the issue during the summit. Following a meeting with Zelenskyy and other G7 leaders on Tuesday, Trump said Russia should pursue a peace agreement with Ukraine. “Russia should make a peace deal,” Trump told reporters after what he described as a “very good” meeting with the Ukrainian president.
The summit concluded with a joint G7 declaration reaffirming support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Leaders also pledged to increase pressure on Russia's economy and strengthen sanctions, including measures affecting the country's oil and gas sectors, according to the statement released on Wednesday.
Ukraine remained one of the central issues on the summit agenda. Zelenskyy urged partners to continue military and financial assistance, while several European governments emphasized the need to bolster Ukraine's air defenses and maintain diplomatic unity. Details of any additional commitments discussed in private meetings were not immediately released.
The discussions came as the conflict, which escalated following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, entered its fifth year. European governments have increasingly taken a larger role in supporting Kyiv as U.S. policy has undergone periodic reviews under the Trump administration, according to officials attending the summit.
By the close of the summit on Wednesday, G7 leaders had publicly aligned behind continued support for Ukraine and additional economic pressure on Russia. Officials said consultations among allies would continue in the coming weeks, while discussions on possible peace efforts remained ongoing.
