What you need to know
- Leaders from the world's top seven industrialized nations (G7) are wrapping up their meeting in Evian-les-Bains, France on Wednesday
- Wednesday's sessions focus on economic growth and digital security
- US President Trump has said he would do 'whatever I can' to help end the Russia-Ukraine war
- Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy joined talks with European leaders, who pointed out recent Ukrainian battlefield gains to Trump
Read below for the latest headlines, videos and analyses on the G7 summit from Wednesday, June 17, Tuesday, June 16 and Monday, June 15.
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Trump, Modi hold 'very good' conversation
US President Donald Trump said he held a "very good" conversation with India's Prime MinisterNarendra Modi.
According to Trump, the two countries are working on trade deals, with the US leader calling Modi a "tough negotiator."
Trump said he will visit India "sometime in the future," also promising to provide India with defense should it be attacked.
"If anybody attacks that man (Modi), we're going to be there. Now, if there's a new leader, I'm not sure about it," the US president said.
Agreement reached on reducing minerals dependency on China
The G7 countries agreed to start a 60% limit on critical raw material imports to reduce their dependency on countries such as China, including on rare earths.
China's role in supplying critical minerals that are vital for the production of electronic appliances such as mobile phones should be reduced to under 60% by 2030, with an ambition to reach 50% "as soon as possible," the G7 said in a statement.
Australia, a G7 partner country, also supported the move.
"We will work together with partners to reduce critical dependencies and ensure that attempts or threats to weaponize economic dependencies fail," the statement continues.
Estonia’s reinvention and Europe’s China break
Germany's Merz welcomes 'new tone' in trans-Atlantic exchange
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has welcomed the G7's joint declaration of support for Ukraine, including fresh sanctions against Russia over its invasion of its neighbor.
"This is the first time since [US] President [Donald] Trump took office that we have issued a joint declaration at a G7 summit and found common language on the major foreign and security policy issues of our time. I consider that a real success," Merz said in remarks made on the sidelines of the G7 meeting in France.
"This sets a new tone, including regarding trans-Atlantic unity and resolve," he added.
Merz said issues on the summit agenda were talked about "very openly" and "very constructively."
The chancellor also Merz reiterated Berlin’s intention to help support a peace deal in the Middle East, including a possible military mission in the Strait of Hormuz if there is a lasting ceasefire.
But, he said, there was "a series of preconditions that are not yet fulfilled, so there is no immediate hurry."
Any military mission would need a parliamentary mandate in Germany, but Merz said there were two weeks left before the German legislature's summer break starts in July, meaning there was "no time pressure at the moment."
Germany's navy has already been preparing for a mission in the strait despite all the uncertainties surrounding it.
Initially good relations between Merz and Trump were clouded earlier this year when the German leader said the US was being "humiliated" by Iran in the Middle East conflict.
'I'm the boss,' Trump tells G7 partners
US President Donald Trump underlined his central presence at the G7 summit on Wednesday, jokingly telling the other leaders from the group "I'm the boss" as he joined the morning session of the last day.
Although Trump, as president of the most powerful country, has indeed been a focus of attention during the meeting, it is in fact being chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron.
Macron, however, took the comment in good part, asking merely, "How are you?"
French officials have some cause to be satisfied that Trump has stayed for all three days of the summit and also signed the G7 communique, unlike at the previous G7 meeting in Canada, where he left early.
Trump will even remain when the summit closes after accepting Macron's invitation to dine at the Palace of Versailles to honor the 250th anniversary of US independence.
Ukraine's Zelenskyy hails G7 support for Kyiv
G7 leaders meeting in France have pledged vital help to Ukraine as it fights Russia's ongoing invasion, now well into its fifth year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday.
In particular, Zelenskyy hailed pledges to boost his country's air defense as it faces daily aerial attacks from its neighbor.
He also welcomed vows by the leaders to step up sanctions on Russia to reduce funding for its war machine.
"Our global unity is truly reducing Russia’s ability to continue this insane and criminal aggression against Ukraine. I thank everyone who is helping us!" Zelenskyy wrote.
G7 leaders unite behind Ukraine, vow to combat organized crime
The leaders of the G7 countries have issued joint statements detailing agreements on geopolitical issues made at their three-day summit in the French spa town of Evian-les-Bains.
In one of the statements, they said they stood united to support Ukraine, including its territorial integrity, as it continues to defend itself against an ongoing Russian invasion.
They said they had also agreed to step up pressure on the Russian war economy by strengthening sanctions on the oil and gas sectors.
They also welcomed the preliminary framework peace deal struck between the US and Iran and said they were ready to help implement it.
A separate statement laid out planned measures to tackle organized crime networks and drug trafficking.
The leaders said, among other things, that they would strengthen investigations to freeze and seize assets, including virtual assets, in a bid to rein in organized crime.
Canada's Carney notes change in US attitude to Ukraine
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Wednesday that he felt the US had changed its attitude on the Ukraine conflict to one more in line with that of its G7 partners.
Carney said there had been encouraging discussions, which included US President Donald Trump, on Ukraine at the G7 summit in France.
He said the US appeared to be taking "a more realistic — in our view — expectation of where this war was going to go, and the position against Russia, the tightening of sanctions against Russia, the ability to provide additional defensive support for Ukraine."
The Trump administration has in the past been seen as often taking Russia's part amid Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, among other things pressuring Kyiv to cede territory to gain peace.
On Tuesday, however, Trump said that US sanctions on Russian oil, some of which were waived amid oil supply problems caused by the Iran war, could now be reimposed after a yet-to-be-signed framework peace deal was struck with Tehran on Sunday.
Carney also praised the preliminary US-Iran deal to end the Middle East war, saying it could be "a game-changer" in the region and beyond, while admitting that "there are risks" of its not being implemented.
The deal, to be signed in Switzerland on Friday, foresees a 60-day truce to allow details for a lasting settlement between the US and Iran to be fleshed out, notably with regard to Tehran's nuclear program.
Global economy, AI risks on the agenda for last day of G7 summit
The meeting of leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) industrialized democracies will on Wednesday focus on ways to support sustainable economic growth as well as the security risks posed by Artificial Intelligence, as the three-day gathering comes to a close.
The discussions come amid concern about the fallout from the war in Iran, which has greatly strained the global economy.
Talks are also likely to center on US President Donald Trump's tariff policies, which have negatively impacted many of Washington's G7 partners.
The leaders are expected to look at measures to enhance growth, strengthen trade ties and ensure fair competition in an increasingly unstable global environment.
Sam Altman, the head of AI giant OpenAI, Anthropic chief Dario Amodei and European rival Mistral's Arthur Mensch will join the G7 leaders for lunch.
The first full day of the summit on Tuesday was given over to discussions about ways to end Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East.
The meeting has been hosted by France in the spa town of Evian-les-Bains.
Trump to stay on for Versailles dinner amid real gold
US President Donald Trump, who has been a central figure at the G7 summit, will be prolonging his stay in France for a dinner in the famous Palace of Versailles hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron.
The dinner is to be held in honor of the 250th anniversary of US independence.
Although the two leaders have not always had smooth relations, Macron has been at pains to placate the US leader during the summit.
Trump, whose predilection for gold has been made apparent by his gilded redecoration of the Oval Office, appears to have been partly attracted by the idea of dining amid the real McCoy.
"I'm a fan of beautiful places, and I was leaving in the afternoon, and then the French president who happens to be a very nice man, invited me to dinner at Versailles," Trump said.
"And Versailles is not gold leaf — Versailles is the real deal. And I said I'd like to do it," he added.
The palace was the residence of French kings from the time of Louis XIV to Louis XVI, the country's last monarch, who was executed during the French Revolution.
The palace is a regular venue for hosting heads of state and foreign dignitaries.
G7 leaders have agreed to step up the pressure on Russia over its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
They said that the moment was right for additional measures hitting Russia's oil and gas sector, with a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz in sight after a preliminary deal was struck by the US and Iran.
A reopening of the strait, a vital transport route for Middle East oil and gas that has been virtually closed during the Iran war, would lessen the reliance of several countries on Russian hydrocarbons.
DW looks at the growing optimism in the West that Russia's war on Ukraine could be brought to an end in the foreseeable future here.
Russia's Putin to host counter-summit
As the G7 meeting in France comes to a close, Russian President Vladimir Putin is planning to host leaders from Southeast Asia at a two-day Russia-ASEAN summit.
The meeting in the central Russian city of Kazan comes as Russia seeks to boost ties with other world regions after being shunned by most of the West over its invasion of Ukraine.
The meeting is to be attended by the leaders and officials of Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia,Singapore, Myanmar and Laos.
According to Putin's foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov, the summit will allow the leaders to exchange views on regional and global political issues, while offering the chance to boost cooperation in a number of fields.
Russia established contact with ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) 35 years ago and has cultivated relations with it since then.
The association consists of 11 countries from the region.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Canada for an official visit later this year, Carney's office said after the two leaders met on the sidelines of the G7 summit.
Canada's spy agency last year said India and China were the main perpetrators of foreign meddling and transnational repression in Canada.
But Ottawa and New Delhi reset relations after Carney visited India earlier this year, where he and Modi struck a new energy partnership and agreed to pursue a free trade agreement.
The Canadian readout of the meeting on Tuesday said that Carney and Modi agreed to launch negotiations on an information agreement to strengthen the exchange of classified defense and security information.
"In less than a year, it is our fourth meeting, indicating our commitment to strong India-Canada ties. We reviewed the full range of relations between our nations, notably the ground covered since we last met," Modi said on X after meeting with Carney.
The pair discussed trade, economy, energy, technology and people-to-people ties, he said.
Germany's Merz optimistic about Trump, Ukraine
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Tuesday expressed optimism about US President Donald Trump and the future of Ukraine.
Speaking to reporters in Evian, Merz said he had, "seen Trump in a cooperative mood."
The German politician added, "I have a certain optimism that Europeans and Americans [will] do everything to end this war."
Merz, who earlier in the day went on the charm offensive by gifting Trump a personalized Germany World Cup jersey, also noted that the US president had no problem with European nations being involved in future peace talks between Ukraine and aggressor Russia.
On Monday, Merz had pointed out that "Ukraine is now in a new position of strength," and that the G7 summit was, "taking place at a particularly turbulent time in global politics."
"The situation," he said, "presents us with challenges. But it also offers some opportunities."
On Tuesday, he lauded the "great transatlantic and European unity" that had characterized talks between leaders.
In April, Merz had drawn Trump's ire by saying the US had been "humiliated" and lacked a strategy in the Iran conflict.
A week later, the Trump administration announced the withdrawal of thousands of US troops from Germany, while claiming the move was unrelated to Merz's comments.
Merz says he would not advise young people to move to US
Trump at G7 signals shift away from Iran toward Ukraine war
US President Trump, riding high on news of a potential peace agreement with Iran, announced his intention to focus on ending the war in Ukraine next — although he gave little insight as to how he would do that.
Trump, said he and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had conducted a "very good" meeting prior to making the statement.
Without mentioning how he would pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin to change course and negotiate a settlement to end the war of aggression he launched against his neighbor on February 24, 2022, Trump said, "I'm gonna do whatever I can" to stop the killing.
"Look," said Trump, "Russia should make a deal."
Ukraine at the G7: Is Trump a bigger threat than Putin?
Zelenskyy, invited to the summit by host Emmanuel Macron, joined European leaders in lobbying Trump to do more to influence Putin, pointing out that Ukraine had again gained ground and continues to call for a negotiated end to the conflict.
To drive the point of the Kremlin's desperation home, Trump was shown images of damage caused to a historically important Kyiv monastery in a recent Russian drone attack.
Zelenskyy is seeking further EU support to bolster his country's air defenses as well as calling on world leaders to put additional sanctions on Russia as a means of forcing Putin to the negotiating table.
Trump, who relaxed US sanctions on Russian oil in March as the US war in Iran led to the Islamic Republic predictably closing the Strait of Hormuz — choking off global oil supplies and sending prices soaring — suggested Tuesday that he may reinstate the sanctions.
Here, too, Trump was short on detail and avoided any commitment regarding new sanctions on Moscow.
Asked about the issue of letting Russia's waivers lapse, Trump simply said: "Soon we’ll be able to do that because the oil is now flowing. We're in a position to do that soon."
US waiver boosts Russian oil revenues amid Iran war
G7 leaders call for containment of deadly Ebola outbreak
G7 leaders meeting in France called for a strong and coordinated response to the current Ebola outbreak in the Congo, urging nations to dedicate resources to ensure the virus remains contained to as small an area as possible.
"We continue to closely monitor the situation as it evolves, along with our partners, to ensure that this dangerous virus does not spread, including across borders," read a Tuesday statement.
The press release followed a Red Cross statement making clear that the current outbreak has not yet peaked and that medical providers have a long battle ahead.
"We are afraid this could last one year before we can end this disease peak," said Bruno Michon on behalf of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
Speaking to reporters in Geneva, Michon described a crisis of confidence that is making it difficult to combat the outbreak, first detected in mid-May.