G7 rallies behind Ukraine after abrupt Trump exit

By AFP
June 18, 2025
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney welcomes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during the Group of Seven summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada.—AFP
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney welcomes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during the Group of Seven summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada.—AFP

KANANASKIS, Canada: Group of Seven powers, holding talks on Tuesday at a summit that Donald Trump left early, promised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky fresh support as Russia stepped up attacks on its neighbour.

Prime Minister Mark Carney, the host of the summit, welcomed Zelensky and announced Can$2 billion ($1.47bn) of military support, including drones and helicopters, for Ukraine. “This underscores the importance of standing in total solidarity with Ukraine,” Carney told him.

“We underscored the importance of using maximum pressure against Russia, who has refused to come to the table,” Carney said.

Carney also announced a new Can$2.3 billion loan to Ukraine to help rebuild its infrastructure and public systems and joined Britain in tightening sanctions on Russia´s so-called shadow fleet of ships used to circumvent international sanctions on its oil sales.

Britain said it wanted to ramp up economic pressure to show Russian President Vladimir Putin it was in his interest to end the war. “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 also drafted a package of new sanctions on Russia but Trump has been hesitant, saying he wants to preserve relations with Putin, whom he spoke to by telephone on the eve of the G7 summit.

Trump infamously berated Zelensky in the Oval Office on February 28, 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, his voice choked with emotion, told Carney that the latest Russian attack was a “big tragedy” for Ukrainian families and it showed the need for allies´ support -- and made 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,” Zelensky said next to Carney.