Deep Rift Within G7: US Opposition to a Unified Statement on Ukraine, Canada and European Leaders Seek Balance
According to leading global news agencies, including Reuters, the Group of Seven (G7) — the world’s seven most developed economies — currently cannot agree on a unified position regarding the war in Ukraine. Sources close to diplomatic circles highlight that the primary reason for this situation is resistance from the United States. As a result, important statements and decisive declarations of support for Ukraine on the diplomatic front are being postponed. Specifically, Canadian officials informed journalists that after the conclusion of the latest G7 summit held on Tuesday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau plans to publish a separate statement reflecting the official stance of the Canadian government. It will call for increased international pressure on Russia through sanctions and affirm support for peaceful efforts led by the US. It is known that Canada is this year’s rotating présidée of the G7 group, meaning the country’s president has a decisive voice, but other participating leaders have yet to agree on a coordinated statement. According to informed sources, after the Tuesday summit, a Canadian official noted that all efforts are currently focused on finding a compromise, as not all countries support the idea of a single diplomatic message. Moreover, they mentioned that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau plans to publish a statement calling for additional sanctions against Russia and reaffirming support for peaceful conflict resolution. Notably, other leaders at the summit have no intention of endorsing a joint G7 declaration. This is primarily due to the lack of consensus on what is called the “oppositional” stance of the US, which openly demonstrates reluctance to make such a statement. European diplomatic sources add that during the summit, G7 leaders emphasized their intention to implement tough measures against Russia and announced plans to strengthen sanctions pressure. At the same time, even in the presence of presidents from other countries, the US president was able to demonstrate independence and a separate position, which heightened tensions within the group. According to several European diplomats, former President Trump signaled that he plans to increase pressure on Vladimir Putin and is considering additional measures under a bill drafted by Senator Lindsey Graham. However, ultimately, the American leader refrained from making concrete commitments, complicating the process of forming a joint G7 position. Regarding Ukraine, Reuters reports that the leaders of this international group essentially agreed on six separate statements addressing current global challenges: illegal migration, artificial intelligence, critical minerals, wildfires, transnational repression, and the development of quantum computing. Meanwhile, despite persistent efforts to support Ukraine diplomatically, the official G7 stance remains divided, and no joint statement of solidarity has been signed by member countries. As for the Ukrainian issue, it is expected that President Volodymyr Zelensky, whom Canada, currently holding G7 présidée, intends to support with new assistance, will leave the summit with a sense of uncertainty. There are also reports that the lack of a unified position within the group, combined with developments surrounding the summit, has made any meeting between Ukrainian leaders and Donald Trump—who recently left the summit earlier than others—highly unlikely. This underscores the complex diplomatic situation in which G7 countries are trying to balance interests and different approaches in response to Russian aggression, increasingly deepening internal conflicts within this influential international format.