G7 leaders begin summit with Ukraine top of agenda
Leaders of the G7 nations met in Évian-les-Bains, France, on Tuesday to discuss the war in Ukraine, the Middle East, and other global challenges. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy joined the talks and announced a Ukrainian strike on a Moscow oil refinery in retaliation for recent attacks on Kyiv.
Delay reveals Trump's influence
The start of the G7 summit was delayed as US President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived late. While other leaders waited, observers noted the delay highlighted Trump's central role in the summit. When Trump finally entered, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz rushed to give him a German national team football shirt with Trump's name and number 47.
Discussions on Ukraine and Middle East
Leaders are set to discuss the war in Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, and relations with emerging economies. Zelenskyy emphasized that the strike on the Moscow oil refinery was a response to recent attacks on Kyiv and called for Russia to be forced to end the war.
Bilateral meetings
After the working sessions, several bilateral meetings and a formal dinner are planned.
