G7 summit rallies behind Ukraine

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

The United States president had been due to speak at the G7 summit with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, with whom he has had a volatile relationship, but flew back Monday over the Israel-Iran conflict.

Zelensky 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 Zelensky and announced Can$2 billion ($1.47bn) 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 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 US trying to water down a proposed statement, said there was never an attempt to issue one due to 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.

Carney dismissed suggestions of friction, saying that all G7 leaders agreed to be “resolute in exploring all options to maximize pressure on Russia, including financial sanctions.”

But he admitted that some G7 leaders “would say above and beyond” what was in the chair’s summary he issued instead of a formal statement signed by all leaders.

G7 leaders, however, managed unity Monday on a joint statement on the Iran conflict that backed Israel but also called broadly for de-escalation, despite Trump contemplating greater US military involvement.

US waits on pressure

Carney earlier joined Britain in tightening sanctions on Russia’s so-called shadow fleet of ships used to circumvent international sanctions on its oil sales.

“These sanctions strike right at the heart of Putin’s war machine, choking off his ability to continue his barbaric war in Ukraine,” Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a statement.

US lawmakers have drafted a package of new sanctions on Russia but Trump has been hesitant to give his support and isolate Putin, to whom he spoke by telephone on the eve of the G7 summit.

Trump infamously berated Zelensky in the Oval Office on 28 February, saying he was ungrateful for US aid, but has since voiced disappointment that Putin has rebuffed a US proposal for at least a temporary ceasefire.

Zelensky told Carney the latest Russian attack showed the need for allies’ support and pressure on Moscow — while making clear that he still backed Trump-led calls for negotiations.

“It’s important for our soldiers to be strong in the battlefield, to stay strong until Russia will be ready for the peace negotiations,” said Zelensky, who cut short meetings in Canada scheduled after the summit.

French President Emmanuel Macron accused his Russian counterpart of exploiting global focus on the Middle East to carry out the deadly attack.

“It shows the complete cynicism of President Putin,” Macron told reporters at the summit.

In Washington, the State Department also condemned the Russian strikes and offered condolences to the victims’ families.