Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Tuesday left the G7 summit with new aid from host Canada for its war against Russia, but said diplomacy is in “crisis,” having missed the chance to press US President Donald Trump for more weapons.
The G7 wealthy nations struggled to find unity over the conflict in Ukraine after Trump expressed support for Russian President Vladimir Putin and left a day early to address the Israel-Iran conflict from Washington.
A Canadian official initially said Ottawa had dropped plans for the G7 to issue a strong statement on the war in Ukraine after resistance from the US.
Photo: AFP
Emily Williams, director of media relations for Prime Minister Mark Carney, later said no proposed statement on Ukraine had ever been planned.
Carney had started the day by announcing Ottawa would provide C$2 billion (US$1.5 billion) in new military assistance for Kyiv as well as impose new financial sanctions.
Zelenskiy said in a post on Telegram that he had told the G7 leaders that “diplomacy is now in a state of crisis” and said they need to continue calling on Trump “to use his real influence” to force an end to the war.
Photo: AFP
Although Canada is one of Ukraine’s most vocal defenders, its ability to help it is far outweighed by the US, the largest arms supplier to Kyiv. Zelenskiy had said he hoped to talk to Trump about acquiring more weapons.
After the summit in the Rocky Mountain resort area of Kananaskis concluded, Carney issued a chair statement summarizing deliberations.
“G7 leaders expressed support for President Trump’s efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine,” it said. “They recognized that Ukraine has committed to an unconditional ceasefire, and they agreed that Russia must do the same. G7 leaders are resolute in exploring all options to maximize pressure on Russia, including financial sanctions.”
A European official said leaders had stressed to Trump their plans to be hard on Russia and Trump seemed impressed, although he does not like sanctions in principle.
Three European diplomats said they had heard signals from Trump that he wanted to raise pressure on Putin and consider a US Senate bill drafted by US Senator Lindsey Graham, but that he had not committed to anything.
“I am returning to Germany with cautious optimism that decisions will also be made in America in the coming days to impose further sanctions against Russia,” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said.
Carney also invited non-G7 members India, Mexico, Australia, South Africa, South Korea and Brazil, as he tries to shore up alliances elsewhere and diversify Canada’s exports away from the US.
Carney and Indian counterpart Narendra Modi agreed to restore diplomatic services nearly two years after Ottawa accused New Delhi of alleged involvement in the killing of a Sikh separatist leader, which turned into a row straining relations between the two countries.
“The leaders agreed to designate new high commissioners, with a view to returning to regular services to citizens and businesses in both countries,” a statement from Carney’s office said.
Additional reporting by AP
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