Zelenskyy warns of diplomatic breakdown as G7 fails to unite on Ukraine

Wednesday 18 June 2025 - 14:04

By: Zahouani Ilham

Zelenskyy warns of diplomatic breakdown as G7 fails to unite on Ukraine

The recent G7 summit held in Kananaskis, Canada, ended without a unified declaration of support for Ukraine, highlighting emerging divisions among the group’s members. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed concern over what he called a “crisis in diplomacy,” following the early departure of U.S. President Donald Trump from the summit.

Traditionally, G7 gatherings have emphasized solidarity, particularly in condemning Russian actions in Ukraine. However, this year’s event closed without a joint statement, revealing a lack of consensus, especially concerning the ongoing war in Ukraine.

On the final day, Zelenskyy met with leaders from Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan, as well as NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. Yet, a crucial meeting with President Trump did not happen, as Trump left ahead of schedule to manage rising tensions between Israel and Iran from Washington.

Zelenskyy urged G7 leaders to continue urging Trump to leverage his influence to help bring an end to the war. His message stressed that the path of diplomacy is faltering.

Initially, Canadian officials hinted that a collective statement on Ukraine had been halted due to U.S. resistance. However, this was later retracted, with clarifications that no such draft had been officially circulated. Sources suggested Trump’s intent to keep open lines of communication with Russian President Vladimir Putin influenced the absence of a statement.

Trump’s remarks earlier in the summit further highlighted divisions, as he criticized the past decision to expel Russia from the group, previously the G8, following its 2014 annexation of Crimea.

Despite the lack of a joint declaration, Zelenskyy secured a commitment from Canada for 2 billion Canadian dollars in new military aid, along with fresh financial sanctions targeting Russia. He had arrived at the summit signaling readiness for peace talks and an unconditional ceasefire but emphasized that such steps require strong international pressure.

Before his departure, Trump did support a separate group statement addressing the Israel-Iran conflict, which sided with Israel and labeled Iran as the region's main destabilizing force. The statement called for a reduction in hostilities but used firm language backing Israeli defense efforts.