G7 leaders back Ukraine, plan greater pressure on Russia

(Reuters)

EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France, June 17 – G7 leaders said on Wednesday they stand united to support Ukraine, including its territorial integrity, ​and agreed to increase sanctions on Russia, in a statement that underscores Kyiv’s growing leverage as it seeks peace talks with Moscow.

The unity ‌of the joint statement from the June 15-17 G7 summit in the French lakeside resort of Evian-les-Bains was notable as U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration has at times been hard to bring on board, particularly on the thorny issue of how to end the Ukraine war.

It followed what Trump called a “very good” meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and other G7 leaders on Tuesday, sparking optimism that ​a peace deal could be struck. Zelenskiy said he could meet Trump again on Wednesday.

It also reflects how Ukraine has strengthened its position after successful ​drone incursions weakened Russia’s hand.

The G7 leaders also welcomed the preliminary peace deal between the United States and Iran – which Trump signed ⁠on the eve of the summit – and said they are ready to contribute to its implementation.

They added they will make efforts to diversify energy supply routes to ​reduce dependence on the Strait of Hormuz and increase energy stocks.

On Wednesday, in a central theme of France’s G7 presidency, leaders will turn their attention to critical minerals and global ​economic imbalances.

France is pushing partners to agree a statement on critical minerals that could include measures to help the West reduce its reliance on China and shield investors from counter-measures and dumping, diplomats said.

China spooked the global economy last year when some industries nearly ground to a halt after Beijing imposed export curbs on permanent magnets made of rare earths – an episode which highlighted how reliant Western ​supply chains in the energy, defence and technology sectors are on these goods.

“We are negotiating texts that are significant on critical minerals and, as a consequence, on economic ​sovereignty,” a French presidency official said ahead of the summit.