ÉVIAN-LES-BAINS, France — Leaders of the Group of Seven nations gathered in the French lakeside town of Évian-les-Bains on Monday for a three-day summit hosted by France, with discussions expected to focus on Ukraine, the Middle East, global economic challenges and the development of artificial intelligence, officials said.
French President Emmanuel Macron, whose country holds the rotating G7 presidency in 2026, welcomed leaders from Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, along with representatives of the European Union and several invited partner countries. The summit runs from June 15 to June 17.
According to the French presidency and European Union officials, leaders are scheduled to hold a series of working sessions covering international peace and security, economic growth, global partnerships and emerging technologies. Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East are among the principal agenda items.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is attending the summit and is expected to press for continued international support as the conflict with Russia continues. European leaders are also seeking discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump on Ukraine and Iran-related diplomacy, according to diplomats cited by Reuters.
The summit opened amid heightened international attention following recent diplomatic developments involving Iran. Reuters reported that European leaders want greater clarity on a preliminary U.S.-Iran framework agreement and are expected to discuss regional security, including shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz.
Economic issues are also expected to feature prominently. Officials have said leaders will discuss global trade imbalances, investment, debt challenges facing developing countries and the impact of artificial intelligence on economies and societies. Technology executives have been invited to participate in discussions related to AI and online safety.
“In an era of geopolitical uncertainty and macroeconomic imbalances, G7 unity and effective multilateralism are essential to strengthening global stability,” European Council President António Costa said in a statement issued before the summit.
France has also invited several non-G7 countries to take part in portions of the discussions, reflecting an effort to broaden engagement on international challenges, according to summit organizers.
As of Tuesday, leaders were continuing closed-door meetings and bilateral talks. No final communiqué had been released, and officials said negotiations on summit outcomes were ongoing.
