Leaders on the Group of Seven summit of main industrialised nations face a packed agenda on their first full day on Tuesday (June 16, 2026), together with difficult discussions on ending Russia’s warfare in Ukraine and addressing the West Asia disaster. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will probably be in attendance on the invitation of host France.
The Ukraine talks come on the heels of U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of an settlement to finish the three 1/2-month-old U.S. warfare towards Iran. In current weeks, the Iran battle has overshadowed the warfare in Ukraine that Russian President Vladimir Putin launched greater than 4 years in the past.
Mr. Trump stated he had good conversations on Sunday with each Mr. Zelenskyy and Mr. Putin. “Now that this (Iran) is completed, we will be specializing in that,” he stated, talking throughout a bilateral assembly on Monday with French President Emmanuel Macron.
Mr. Macron stated he’ll search to steer Mr. Trump to proceed supporting Ukraine and improve strain on Russia to assist attain a peace settlement. Hours earlier than the beginning of the G7 summit, Russia fired tons of of drones and dozens of missiles at Ukraine’s largest cities in a barrage that killed 11 individuals and set fireplace to a non secular landmark.
Tuesday’s discussions within the French spa city of Evian-les-Bains additionally embrace a piece session targeted on “ending crises and guaranteeing stability within the Center East.” Leaders of Egypt, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are to hitch the talks.
Mr. Trump has been pissed off by an absence of motion towards Ukraine-Russia decision
The assaults on Ukraine’s largest cities got here after Mr. Zelenskyy and Mr. Putin spoke individually by telephone with Mr. Trump on Sunday, the U.S. chief’s eightieth birthday. The change suggests Washington hasn’t given up on its diplomatic efforts to cease the preventing that adopted Moscow’s all-out invasion of its neighbor in 2022.
“The fitting negotiation is one wherein Ukraine and Russia are on the desk, however with Europeans and People current as properly,” Mr. Macron stated on French tv.
Whereas campaigning for a return to the White Home, Mr. Trump claimed he might finish the Russia-Ukraine warfare inside 24 hours of taking workplace. He has since acknowledged it has proved a lot tougher than he initially thought it could be.
EU membership negotiations
Ukraine on Monday formally began European Union membership negotiations, launching a course of that can require its authorities to decide to years of political reforms even because it fights a Russian invasion.
Ukraine sees EU membership as a safety assure for a steady future as soon as the warfare ends. Its finest assure can be membership within the NATO army alliance, however the Trump administration insists that can’t occur, and others are cautious of it becoming a member of whereas the warfare continues.
Iran flashpoint between Trump and Europe
In current months, Mr. Trump has had sharp disagreements with Mr. Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni over his failure to seek the advice of them earlier than the choice to go to warfare in Iran. Mr. Trump has threatened reprisals, together with drawing down U.S. troops in all 4 nations, all members of the NATO army alliance, for his or her lack of assist.
Regardless of these disagreements, the tone in Evian ought to be reasonably measured, as U.S. allies search speedy progress that would ease the financial impression of rising oil costs attributable to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
“I believe lots of nice issues are going to occur within the Center East proper now, and really importantly the oil is plummeting down and the inventory market is capturing up like a rocket in the present day,” Mr. Trump stated.
Forward of their assembly on the G7, the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and the UK issued a joint assertion congratulating the USA, the Iranian authorities and the mediators on what they known as a “diplomatic breakthrough.” Canada additionally signed the assertion. The leaders stated it was important for detailed negotiations to happen and for the deal to be shortly applied so the Strait of Hormuz will be reopened to tanker visitors.
Mr. Macron later stated France and different Western companions are “able to take motion in a short time” to assist reopen the strait peacefully. France and Britain have championed a mission to revive maritime safety within the strait as quickly as circumstances permit.
Mr. Trump, nonetheless, appeared to downplay the necessity for a big worldwide army deployment. “I do not suppose we’re gonna want a lot assist,” he stated throughout his assembly with Macron. “However I do not suppose it is a dangerous thought to have a ship or two up right here from a number of nations. You would be an excellent nation to do it.”
What’s subsequent on the agenda
On Tuesday, along with a working session that features Mr. Zelenskyy, Mr. Trump will take part in conferences that embrace sit-downs with the emir of Qatar and the president of the UAE earlier than attending a cultural efficiency and a dinner with the opposite G7 leaders.
The G7 contains France, the USA, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan and the UK. Different visitor nations at this summit together with Brazil, India, Kenya and South Korea have been invited to take part in some discussions as companion nations alongside G7 members.
Printed – June 16, 2026 10:32 am IST