G7 Summit Supports Ukraine; Trump Says "I'm the Boss"
EU and G7 leaders unanimously pledged support for Ukraine on Wednesday and imposed new sanctions on Russia. US President Trump said at the summit "I'm the boss."
This statement was made during the G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains, France, June 15-17, following a joint declaration that could further strengthen Ukraine's leverage in potential peace negotiations with Russia.
Ukrainian President Zelensky and his allies aimed to convince Trump that Ukraine's counteroffensive is making progress and that Russia cannot dictate terms in any peace agreement.
The joint declaration and leaders' comments showed Trump, after years of skepticism, moving closer to Zelensky's arguments. French President Macron said this demonstrated a "real shift in attitude" by the US on Ukraine and called the summit a "success." Last year's G7 summit in Canada failed to reach a common position on Ukraine.
Italian Prime Minister Meloni said leaders and Trump "found common ground, which was not always a given." Canadian PM Carney praised the US and Trump for "a shift in position."
Last year Trump left the G7 a day early due to Middle East tensions, but this year he attended the full summit and later headed to Versailles for a dinner. Leaders were visibly relieved to reach joint declarations on Ukraine, AI, critical minerals, and other issues.
However, any hope of forcing Moscow into peace talks still depends on Trump's commitments, which are often unpredictable.
"I'm the boss," Trump told fellow leaders and reporters as he took his seat at the global economic security meeting.
Trump's Iran Deal Sets Tone for Negotiations
G7 leaders also welcomed the preliminary peace deal between the US and Iran and expressed willingness to help implement it, but Trump made no specific commitments on the roles others might play.
European allies fear that an inexperienced US negotiating team may fail to secure a solid nuclear deal in the next phase and address Iran's ballistic missile program, leading to a prolonged standoff.
Meanwhile, Trump emphasized that the memorandum of understanding with Iran is not a final deal, and the US could resume bombing if Iran fails to comply.
"If I don't like it, if they're not honest, we will immediately resume bombing, dropping bombs right in the center of their heads," he said.
Despite public support from European allies for the preliminary deal, diplomats warned that reaching a lasting agreement on Iran's nuclear program, ballistic missile program, and support for proxy forces in the Middle East will be extremely difficult.
