NPR
G7 leaders open summit talks in France on Ukraine and the Middle East
+771 words added -757 words removed
− By
The Associated Press
Emmanuel Macron, President of France, left, greets U.S.
+ By
The Associated Press
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, center, speaks with U.S.
− President Donald Trump during the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, Monday, June 15, 2026.
+ President Donald Trump, left, during a working session at the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, Tuesday, June 16, 2026.
− Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP hide caption
EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France — Leaders at the Group of Seven summit of major industrialized nations face a packed agenda on their first full day Tuesday, including challenging discussions on ending Russia's war in Ukraine and addressing the Middle East crisis.
+ Thibault Camus/Pool via AP hide caption
EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France — U.S.
− Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will be in attendance at the invitation of host France.
+ allies at the Group of Seven summit of major industrialized nations worked Tuesday to push the war in Ukraine back up the agenda of President Donald Trump after more than four years of fighting sparked by Russia's full-scale invasion.
− The Ukraine talks come on the heels of U.S.
+ The Iran conflict has in recent weeks overshadowed the war in Ukraine that Russian President Vladimir Putin launched.
− President Donald Trump's announcement of an agreement to end the 3 1/2-month-old U.S.
+ Host President Emmanuel Macron of France said he'll seek to persuade Trump to continue supporting Ukraine and increase pressure on Russia to help reach a peace agreement.
As the U.S.
+ under Trump has cut back aid to Ukraine, France and its European allies are now the biggest providers of military and financial support to Kyiv.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy joined G7 leaders for a morning working session but talks wrapped quickly, as leaders gathered for just 75 minutes, according to the French G7 presidency.
The Ukraine talks came on the heels of Trump's announcement of an agreement to end the 3 1/2-month-old U.S.
− In recent weeks, the Iran conflict has overshadowed the war in Ukraine that Russian President Vladimir Putin launched more than four years ago.
+ Trump said Tuesday he'll be meeting one-on-one with Zelenskyy.
− Trump said he had good conversations on Sunday with both Zelenskyy and Putin.
+ Trump said he wants to focus on Ukraine now, saying Iran will soon be "back in the rearview mirror." He downplayed the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war on the U.S.
− "Now that this (Iran) is finished, we're going to be focusing on that," he said, speaking during a bilateral meeting Monday with French President Emmanuel Macron.
+ but lamented the death toll.
− Macron said he'll seek to persuade Trump to continue supporting Ukraine and increase pressure on Russia to help reach a peace agreement.
+ "The whole thing is ridiculous," Trump said.
− Hours before the start of the G7 summit, Russia fired hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles at Ukraine's biggest cities in a barrage that killed 11 people and set fire to a religious landmark.
+ "So, yeah, I'm going to do whatever I can."
Meanwhile, the U.K. announced a new set of sanctions targeting the " shadow fleet " Russia uses to ship oil and gas, and the finance networks used by Moscow to evade Western sanctions. The ships targeted include several vessels recently purchased by Russia to transport liquefied natural gas from its sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 project.
− Tuesday's discussions in the French spa town of Evian-les-Bains also include a work session focused on "ending crises and ensuring stability in the Middle East." Leaders of Egypt, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are to join the talks.
+ Last weekend, U.K. troops seized a Russian shadow fleet vessel in the English Channel for the first time.
+ Hours before the summit began, Russia fired hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles at Ukraine's biggest cities in a barrage that killed 11 people and set fire to a religious landmark.
− "The right negotiation is one in which Ukraine and Russia are at the table, but with Europeans and Americans present as well," Macron said on French television.
While campaigning for a return to the White House, Trump claimed he could end the Russia-Ukraine war within 24 hours of taking office.
+ While campaigning in 2024 for a return to the White House, Trump claimed he could end the Russia-Ukraine war within 24 hours of taking office.
− He has since acknowledged it has proved much harder than he initially thought it would be.
+ He has since acknowledged it has proved much harder than he initially thought.
− Ukraine on Monday officially started European Union membership negotiations, launching a process that will require its government to commit to years of political reforms even as it fights a Russian invasion.
+ Ukraine on Monday officially started European Union membership negotiations, launching a process that will require its government to commit to years of political reforms even as it fights the Russian invasion.
− In recent months, Trump has had sharp disagreements with Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni over his failure to consult them before the decision to go to war in Iran.
+ The U.S.-Iran ceasefire deal is getting plenty of attention at Tuesday's sessions.
− Trump has threatened reprisals, including drawing down U.S.
+ Trump held one-on-one talks with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, and will meet with United Arab Emirates President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan later.
− troops in all four countries, all members of the NATO military alliance, for their lack of support.
+ The Gulf nations are not part of the G7, but Macron extended invitations to the leaders to take part in the summit at a fraught moment for the region.
− Despite those disagreements, the tone in Evian should be rather measured, as U.S.
+ Trump expressed frustration over Israel's continued hostilities with the Iranian-backed militia Hezbollah in Lebanon, telling reporters he's "not happy with the way Israel has handled themselves with Lebanon and with Hezbollah."
"They should have been able to deal with them faster," Trump added about Israeli operations to target Hezbollah."It just goes on forever.
− allies seek rapid progress that could ease the economic impact of rising oil prices caused by the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
+ And when that happens, it throws a negative light on the big deal. And that's the deal with Iran."
G7 leaders also convened a working lunch to discuss the situation in the Middle East, with conversation expected to focus on the path ahead after the U.S.-Iran ceasefire agreement.
− "I think a lot of great things are going to happen in the Middle East right now, and very importantly the oil is plummeting down and the stock market is shooting up like a rocket today," Trump said.
Ahead of their meeting at the G7, the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement congratulating the United States, the Iranian government and the mediators on what they called a "diplomatic breakthrough." Canada also signed the statement.
+ In recent months, Trump has had sharp disagreements with Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni over his failure to consult them before the decision to go to war in Iran.
− The leaders said it was vital for detailed negotiations to take place and for the deal to be quickly implemented so the Strait of Hormuz can be reopened to tanker traffic.
+ Trump has threatened reprisals, including drawing down U.S. troops in all four countries, all NATO members, for their lack of support.
− Macron later said France and other Western partners are "ready to take action very quickly" to help reopen the strait peacefully.
+ Despite those disagreements, U.S.
− France and Britain have championed a mission to restore maritime security in the strait as soon as conditions allow.
+ allies seek rapid progress that could ease the economic impact of rising oil prices caused by the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
− Trump, however, appeared to downplay the need for a large international military deployment.
+ Macron said France and other Western partners are "ready to take action very quickly" to help reopen the strait peacefully.
− "I don't think we're gonna need much help," he said during his meeting with Macron.
+ France and the U.K.
− "But I don't think it's a bad idea to have a ship or two up here from a few countries. You'd be a great country to do it."
On Tuesday, in addition to a working session that includes Zelenskyy, Trump will participate in meetings that include sit-downs with the emir of Qatar and the president of the UAE before attending a cultural performance and a dinner with the other G7 leaders.
+ have championed a mission to restore maritime security in the strait as soon as conditions allow.
− The G7 includes France, the United States, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom.
+ The G7 comprises France, the United States, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom.
− Other guest nations at this summit including Brazil, India, Kenya and South Korea were invited to participate in some discussions as partner countries alongside G7 members.
+ Other guest nations at this summit, including Brazil, India, Kenya and South Korea, were invited to participate in some discussions.