The G7 summit ended Tuesday without major breakthroughs on top global challenges, as U.S. President Donald Trump’s early departure left six remaining leaders struggling to present a united front on issues like the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney hosted the summit alongside leaders from the U.K., France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and guest attendees including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. Despite discussions on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the intensifying Israel-Iran conflict, leaders failed to agree on a joint statement on Ukraine — a sign of growing discord within the once closely coordinated group.
Zelenskyy, urging allies for support and peace negotiations, stressed the importance of international pressure on Russia. However, a Canadian official revealed that the U.S. opposed any unified statement on Ukraine amid its own quiet push for diplomatic talks with Moscow — a briefing later denied by Carney’s spokesperson.
In Trump’s absence, the remaining six leaders met separately with Zelenskyy and agreed to collaborate on curbing “non-market” threats to global access to critical minerals and managing the risks of artificial intelligence to jobs and the environment. Yet the absence of a unified declaration on the Ukraine war undercut the summit’s purpose.
Trump’s scheduled meeting with Zelenskyy was canceled, though the U.S. previously signed a separate deal granting American access to Ukraine’s mineral wealth. The U.S. also declined to join new sanctions against Russia announced by Canada.
Meanwhile, growing tensions in the Middle East loomed large. As Israeli airstrikes hammered Iran and Tehran retaliated with missiles and drones, French President Emmanuel Macron cautioned against military-led regime change in Iran, warning it would destabilize the region.
Before departing the summit, Trump joined leaders in a brief, generic statement declaring that Iran “must never obtain a nuclear weapon” and calling for a ceasefire in Gaza — one of the few points of agreement.
Macron praised Carney for maintaining group unity amid difficult circumstances. “It would be unfair to expect Canada to solve all the world’s crises,” he said, noting France will host next year’s G7.
Carney, downplaying Trump’s early exit, said it was prompted by the worsening crisis in the Middle East, not any internal conflict at the summit. “There was no problem,” he said. “Trump felt it was better to be in Washington — I can understand that.”
G7 summit opens in Canada amid Israel-Iran conflict, global trade tensions
Still, Trump’s exit fueled concerns about global leadership. As he flew back to Washington, he claimed he had done “everything I had to do” at the G7. But tensions were already visible before his departure — including an awkward exchange where Italian PM Giorgia Meloni dramatically rolled her eyes at Macron during a meeting.
Trump’s confrontational trade stance added to summit friction. He defended not sanctioning Russia further, saying U.S. sanctions cost “a tremendous amount of money.” He also criticized the 2014 expulsion of Russia from the G8, arguing it contributed to the Ukraine war.
The U.S. president has focused more on trade grievances, imposing steep tariffs — 50% on steel and aluminum, 25% on cars, and a 10% import tax on most goods — potentially rising next month when a 90-day review period expires.
One diplomatic success for Trump was the finalization of a U.S.-U.K. trade framework with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, previously announced in May. The moment took an unusual turn when Trump dropped the deal papers and Starmer quickly picked them up, later explaining that strict security rules made it risky for anyone else to approach the president.
Overall, the summit reflected a fractured global moment — with world powers navigating escalating wars, economic uncertainty, and strained alliances without the kind of unity that once defined the G7.
Source: With inputs from agency