Trump asserts leadership at G7 as Ukraine policy shifts

The shift in tone was palpable as G7 heads issued a unified statement supporting Ukraine, a move intended to bolster Kyiv’s leverage in future negotiations with Moscow. French President Emmanuel Macron described the outcome as a “real change in approach,” contrasting the current consensus with last year’s summit in Canada, which concluded without a joint stance on the war. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Canadian official Mark Carney both signaled relief at the newfound common ground, noting that U.S. cooperation on such fronts is rarely guaranteed.

Beyond Ukraine, the summit addressed the volatility of global security. While leaders welcomed a preliminary peace deal with Iran, they remained wary of Trump’s unpredictable rhetoric, particularly his threat to resume military action should the memorandum fail. The G7 also moved to insulate Western supply chains from Chinese influence, committing to a coordinated strategy for stockpiling critical minerals essential for defense and renewable energy. Discussions extended to the risks of artificial intelligence, featuring insights from industry leaders including Sam Altman and Dario Amodei, as the group sought to balance innovation with oversight.