ÉVIAN-LES-BAINS, France — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy joined leaders of the Group of Seven nations on Tuesday, pressing for continued military assistance and stronger support for Kyiv as the conflict with Russia remained high on the summit agenda, according to officials attending the gathering.
Zelenskyy attended the three-day summit in the French resort town of Évian-les-Bains at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron. Discussions involving Ukraine took place alongside talks on security, economic issues and tensions in the Middle East, according to summit organizers and participating governments.
European leaders used the meeting to advocate continued backing for Ukraine and to encourage additional pressure on Russia through sanctions and defense assistance, Reuters reported. Diplomats attending the summit said several governments were seeking to maintain Western coordination on military support for Kyiv while also pursuing diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the conflict.
The summit came one day after Russian missile and drone attacks struck multiple locations in Ukraine, including damage to the historic Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra monastery complex, according to Ukrainian authorities. Russia denied targeting the site and said Ukrainian air-defense activity was responsible for the damage. Independent verification of all claims was not immediately available.
Ahead of the gathering, Zelenskyy said he remained open to direct talks aimed at ending the conflict. Speaking in Kyiv on Monday, he said Ukraine had proposed a meeting involving Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the summit. “We gave message that we are ready to meet with Putin during the G7,” Zelenskyy told reporters, according to Reuters. He added that Russia had indicated it was not prepared for such talks.
Macron said Ukraine’s participation was important for maintaining unity among partner countries on issues including military aid, negotiations and future security arrangements, according to remarks released before the summit. European leaders have also discussed additional defense commitments and measures intended to strengthen Ukraine’s armed forces.
The G7 summit, hosted by France from June 15 to June 17, brings together leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, along with representatives of the European Union and invited partner countries. Ukraine and European security were scheduled as key topics during multiple working sessions, according to the European Council.
As of Tuesday, discussions among leaders were continuing. No new collective military assistance package had been formally announced by the G7, and details of any additional commitments remained unclear.
