The G7 summit began under a cloud of division as U.S. President Donald Trump declared Russia’s 2014 expulsion from the group a “big mistake,” arguing it precipitated the Ukraine invasion. Standing alongside Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Trump asserted that Vladimir Putin “would not have invaded Ukraine in 2022” had he remained in the then-G8, adding that Putin now speaks only to him due to lingering resentment. The remarks cast immediate doubt on the summit’s ability to present a united front on Ukraine, particularly with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy scheduled to meet leaders Tuesday to plead for tougher sanctions and weapons.
Trump doubled down on his unconventional geopolitics, suggesting China should join a revamped “G9” and reiterating that Putin could mediate the Israel-Iran conflict—a notion French President Emmanuel Macron swiftly rejected. “Russia cannot be a negotiator because it started an illegal war,” Macron stated, highlighting Moscow’s status as a pariah. European diplomats expressed alarm, with one noting Trump’s fixation on Russia “shows where U.S. priorities lie” amid stalled efforts to lower the $60/barrel price cap on Russian oil.
A draft G7 statement urging restraint between Israel and Iran faced collapse after U.S. officials confirmed Trump would not sign it. The document emphasized civilian protection, monitoring Iran’s nuclear activities, and reaffirming Israel’s right to self-defense. Trump instead insisted Iran must concede to nuclear demands, declaring, “They had 60 days to make a deal. On day 61, I said no deal”. He dismissed questions about U.S. military involvement, asserting Iran “is not winning this war” but should negotiate “before it’s too late”.
With Trump imposing tariffs on allies and boasting “I’ve always been a tariff person,” Canada preemptively scrapped plans for a joint communiqué to avoid a repeat of the 2018 summit, where Trump disavowed the final statement. Drafts on migration, AI, and critical minerals remained unsigned by the U.S., dimming hopes for policy coherence. Though Carney flattered Trump as indispensable to G7 relevance (“nothing without U.S. leadership”), talks centered on bilateral deals, such as the U.K.-U.S. trade pact championed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Zelenskyy’s upcoming appearance carries high stakes. Ahead of the meeting, he condemned Russia’s renewed attacks on energy infrastructure, stating, “Russia spits in the face of the international community”. European leaders, led by Macron, urged Trump to back stricter sanctions, including lowering Russia’s oil price cap to $45/barrel to squeeze revenues. However, Trump’s insistence that Putin is open to mediation in the Middle East—and his claim that Ukraine’s war “wouldn’t exist if I were president earlier”—suggested little appetite for confronting Moscow .
Carney opened the gathering by calling it a “turning point in history,” but the fissures were unmistakable. Trump’s remarks on Russia dominated ]early sessions, while his Iran stance isolated Washington from allies seeking de-escalation. As Starmer noted, “The risk of [Middle East] conflict escalating is obvious,” with global stability hanging in the balance. With no joint statement planned and key policies uncoordinated, the summit risks ending as a symbol of democratic disarray rather than resoluteness.