Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy met with other G7 leaders during the summit, including France’s President Emmanuel Macron, at the summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, on June 17, 2025. President Zelenskiy secured fresh military aid and promises of pressure on Russia, even as divisions surfaced among the world’s leading democracies. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a C$2 billion new aid package (approximately USD 1.47 billion) for Ukraine, including drones, ammunition, vehicles, and more, as well as a C$2 billion reconstruction loan and new sanctions on Russia’s energy sector and sanction-evaders. The UK’s new Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, unveiled sanctions on 30 Russian targets (financial, military and energy firms) and tightened the oil‐price cap to hit Putin’s revenue. France, Germany, Japan and other allies reiterated staunch support for Ukraine, condemned Russia’s attacks and prepared further assistance. Zelenskiy hailed these as “concrete results” – aid from frozen Russian assets and tougher sanctions – and thanked partners for planning Ukraine’s postwar rebuild. He stressed to leaders that “our soldiers must stay strong until Russia is ready for the peace negotiations,” and reaffirmed Ukraine’s readiness for an “unconditional ceasefire”.
Key outcomes from the summit included:
- Military and financial aid: Canada pledged C$2 billion in arms plus C$2 billion in loans, while other G7 nations promised continued weapons, air defences and economic support. The G7 also agreed to tap proceeds of frozen Russian assets for Ukraine, with Canada’s PM explicitly earmarking “more than $2 billion financed by proceeds from frozen Russian assets,”.
- Tighter sanctions: The U.K. targeted Russia’s “shadow fleet” of oil tankers and raised sanctions on financial and energy sectors. Canada announced sanctions on dozens of Russian firms and individuals (including 200 shadow‑fleet vessels). France’s Emmanuel Macron and others pressed for even harsher measures, and EU officials signalled readiness to deepen the oil price cap after recent attacks.
- Unified chair’s statement: With no full joint communique on Ukraine (due to U.S. objections), Carney issued a “chair’s statement” declaring that G7 leaders would “explore all options to maximize pressure on Russia, including financial sanctions”. It explicitly endorsed Ukraine’s pledge to an unconditional ceasefire and urged that Russia do the same. The statement even expressed support for U.S. President Trump’s “efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine,” a nod to Washington’s role.
- Broadening alliances: Carney invited non‑G7 democracies (India, Brazil, etc.) to join in supporting Ukraine, signalling a coalition beyond the core club. Britain’s Starmer agreed to convene the next “Coalition of the Willing” meeting soon. In private talks, NATO, G7 and other partners agreed to coordinate a pressure campaign (sanctions, diplomatic initiatives) and to condition further help on Russia agreeing to peace.
Unasked Questions about Peace Talks
President Trump’s remarks loomed large. On arrival, Trump insisted it was “a mistake” to expel Russia from the former G8 after Crimea. He left the summit abruptly on Monday, citing the Middle East crisis as the reason. Trump himself did not meet Zelenskiy, despite a planned bilateral meeting, and his office later claimed there was “nothing to do” with an Israeli‑Iran cease-fire. In reporters’ sessions on his return flight, he complained about “unfair” trade with Europe but made no new pledges on Ukraine, nor on negotiations with Russia. U.S. officials told Reuters that a White House team tasked with pressing Russia for peace had been quietly disbanded, as Trump grew frustrated with a lack of progress. He has even suggested the U.S. might abandon peace‑talk efforts altogether. In short, no public US commitment to push Ukrainian‑Russian talks emerged – and in Zelenskiy’s absence from Washington, analysts fear White House support is floundering.
While Trump mulled tariffs and met with NATO Secretary Mark Rutte in the lobby, G7 allies scrambled to assuage Ukraine’s fears. Canada’s Carney appealed to all leaders to keep pressuring Trump on Ukraine. When asked why the summit issued no public Ukraine statement, Carney diplomatically blamed US insistence on continuing negotiations with Putin. On camera, French President Macron lamented that Putin was “cynically” exploiting the global focus on the Middle East to bomb Ukraine. Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he returned home “with cautious optimism” that new sanctions would still follow. Britain’s Starmer stressed there is “no place to hide” for anyone financing Russia’s war and said a strong Ukraine is essential for lasting peace.
Zelenskiy (left) confers with Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney (right) during the G7 summit. Carney informed Zelenskiy of Canada’s new aid package and sanctions, pledging support “until we achieve a just peace,”. Japan’s Prime Minister (Shigeru Ishiba, in his first meeting with Zelenskiy) reaffirmed Tokyo’s “continued support for Ukraine to achieve a just and lasting peace,” announcing Japan will host an international landmine conference this fall. Japan has also joined other G7 members in criticizing Moscow and maintaining sanctions on Russia’s regime.
Stance of Major Allies
- Canada: A leading advocate at the summit. Carney’s measures (aid + sanctions) were the day’s highlight. Canada also invited global partners to diversify Ukraine’s support networkreuters.com. Its tone was unequivocal: “This support will remain steadfast until we achieve a just peace,” Carney said.
- United Kingdom: Starmer has taken a hard line. In bilateral talks with Zelenskiy, he agreed to accelerate the next Coalition of the Willing (an aid coordination group). He announced new UK sanctions on Putin’s allies and economic assets, including oil tankers, and vowed to keep tightening the energy price cap on Russia. Starmer emphasized that Western unity on sanctions and arms must be relentless.
- France: President Macron echoed those sentiments. He slammed Russia’s latest missile barrage on Kyiv as proof of Putin’s cynicism and supported the new sanctions round. The French government has stressed Ukraine’s right to defend itself and has prepared further military aid, consistent with NATO goals.
- Germany: Chancellor Merz said Germany would continue arms deliveries and sanctions. He welcomed the summit’s reaffirmation of NATO support for Ukraine and expressed hope – “cautious optimism” – that the US Congress would soon approve more sanctions or aid. Germany is also moving forward with its $100 billion rearmament plan, part of which will boost Ukraine’s air defences.
- Japan: Ishiba used the summit to extend Japan’s partnership with Ukraine. He announced a new landmine-clearing initiative and reinforced Japan’s billions in past aid. Japanese officials underscored that Tokyo will keep levying sanctions on Moscow in step with its G7 allies. Japan also later signed a bilateral 10-year security pact with Ukraine (announced on June 13), underlining Tokyo’s long-term commitment.
Recent War Developments
The summit occurred amid grim battlefield news. On June 17, Russian forces launched one of the war’s most devastating attacks on Kyiv – a barrage of missiles and drones that killed at least 28 people and wounded over 130. Allies reacted swiftly: the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv condemned the “senseless” strike and promised more support, and EU foreign-policy chief Kaja Kallas urged Europe to lower the oil price cap on Russia (even without U.S. concurrence) to curb Putin’s war-funding. A day earlier, Russia and Ukraine had met in Istanbul (June 2) for a second round of direct peace talks, but Russia’s demands were deemed punitive (territorial losses for Ukraine, guarantees of neutrality) and no ceasefire was agreed. Turkish President Erdogan even floated hosting a summit of Putin, Zelenskiy and Trump to break the deadlock, but that remains only a hope.
Looking ahead, Zelenskiy is now debating whether to attend next week’s NATO summit in The Hague. Some Ukrainian officials say there’s little point if President Trump isn’t present. What is clear is that Ukraine’s Western backers at Kananaskis, aside from the U.S., have publicly pledged continued support. Their collective message: Ukraine’s Allies will sustain aid and pressure until Russia agrees to end the war. As Zelenskiy himself put it, “We are ready for peace talks and for an unconditional ceasefire. But pressure is needed to make it happen,”president.gov.ua.
