“The G7 united to support Ukraine, mission accomplished for Macron… exclaims The evening. At the end of the second day of a summit in Évian (in Haute-Savoie) in the presence of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the leaders of seven of the most industrialized countries on the planet, including the American President, Donald Trump, approved a joint declaration in which they undertake to strengthen military support for kyiv and to toughen sanctions against Russia.
“We, the leaders of the G7, are united in our unwavering support for Ukraine in the defense of its freedom, sovereignty and territorial integrity,†they declared in a press release published shortly after midnight on Wednesday June 17, reports Politico Europe. G7 leaders (Germany, Canada, United States, France, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom) “pledge to increase pressure on Russian war economy†and à “strengthen sanctions, particularly those targeting the oil and gas sectors†, they added.
Politico Europe observes, in another article, “opening gestures†of the American president, who “they gave back optimism†to the leaders of the European Union, on the second day of the meeting. And all the more so since the latter “expected†, upon their arrival in France, “à un bras de fer†with the tenant of the White House “about Iran and the war in Ukraine†.
“The discussions we have had among ourselves and with the American president – both during official meetings and during informal meetings on the sidelines of these meetings – give me a certain feeling of optimism… German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told the press on Tuesday, who had not spoken to Donald Trump for weeks after his criticism of the war in Iran.
“Conditional loveâ€
“By turns smiling and reserved, the American president took the participants by surprise by announcing, after a seventy-minute interview with the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, and other leaders, that the United States would reimpose sanctions on the sector Russian oil tanker… reports the media.
“Russia must make a deal… a déclaré le président américain.
The evening recalls that, before the summit, the Élysée had set itself the objective that the countries would continue operational, financial and military support for Ukraine, “each according to his means†. “The French presidency said it hoped that the United States would at least continue to take its part, in other words, that it would not disengage further. Mission accomplished… greets the Belgian newspaper.
But this “olive branch†tense to Ukraine during the G7 “however comes at a price†, comments Politico, qualifying this “love†of “conditional†, “as always with the author of The Art of the Deal†.
The occupant of the Oval Office allegedly pressured other G7 participants to support his deal with Iran and offer help in clearing the Strait of Hormuz before Vice President JD Vance lands in Geneva to finalize the ceasefire deal with Tehran, according to two senior diplomats rank questioned by Politico, which evokes “the transactional nature of an apparent ‘Ukraine for Iran’†exchange.
“Charm Offensiveâ€
However, for Politico Europe, l’issue “positive†discussions which took place on Tuesday at the Hôtel Royal, which overlooks Lake Geneva, “is largely due to the efforts of G7 leaders to seduce†Donald Trump.
French President Emmanuel Macron convinced the American President to extend his stay by inviting him to dinner at the Château de Versailles. “Versailles is not gold plating. Versailles is the real thing… the billionaire exclaimed. The German Friedrich Merz offered Donald Trump a personalized football jersey, flocked with a “47†in the back, that the 47e President of the United States accepted with a smile.
“After a bitter breakup, European leaders are conciliatory towards Trump†, also observes The New York Times. The American newspaper reports a “softened tone†, Tuesday, after the framework peace agreement reached on Sunday with Iran and “the hope of cooperation with Ukraine†.
“This charm offensive had a political objective: to keep Trump firmly in the camp of the Western powers, before a crucial NATO summit to be held next month in Ankara, the Turkish capital… decrypts again Politico Europe.
Time However, he is doubtful. “Donald Trump seems to be committed to Ukraine, but given his countless about-faces there is room for doubt.†A skepticism shared by the New York Times. “As courteous as the exchanges between Mr. Trump and the Europeans were, there was no real indication that they had changed the president’s opinion about his involvement in a deal to end the war in Ukraine.â€
