G7 summit minus Trump rallies behind Ukraine

G7 leaders vow support for Ukraine, avoid joint condemnation of Russia, as Trump misses summit over Israel-Iran conflict.

Group of Seven leaders on Tuesday (June 17, 2025) vowed greater support for Ukraine but stopped short of a joint condemnation of Russia for its growing attacks, at a summit missing Donald Trump.

The U.S. President had been due to speak at the G7 summit with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, with whom he has had a volatile relationship, but flew back Monday (June 16, 2025) over the Israel-Iran conflict.

Mr. Zelenskyy met the remaining leaders at a remote lodge in the Canadian Rockies hours after Russia hit Kyiv with one of the worst bombardments since it invaded in February 2022, killing at least 10 people in the capital.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney welcomed Mr. Zelenskyy and announced Can$2 billion ($1.47billion) of military support, including drones and helicopters, for Ukraine.

But the G7 summit stopped short of issuing a joint statement, unlike in past years under Mr. Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden, when the club of major industrial democracies denounced Russian “aggression.”

A Canadian official, backtracking on an earlier account of the United States trying to water down a proposed statement, said there was never an attempt to issue one due to Mr. Trump’s continued hopes of mediating with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“It was clear that it would not have been feasible to find detailed language that all G7 partners could agree to in that context,” the official said on condition of anonymity.