Six takeaways from the G7 summit in Évian

Leaders of the world’s richest economies, plus several partner countries, flocked to Évian-les-Bains, France, to discuss the most pressing global issues, from the war in Ukraine to a fragile truce in the Middle East.

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The most repeated word on the lips of diplomats has been “convergence,” as they expressed relief that the high-level conference unfolded far more smoothly than the previous summit, and that U.S. President Donald Trump proved cooperative.

Euronews breaks down the most significant takeaways from the G7 summit, cutting through the noise surrounding the latest international developments.

United for Ukraine

Ukraine may be the G7’s biggest winner, emerging with a strong statement of support from Western leaders despite President Volodymyr Zelenskyy failing to secure a full bilateral meeting with Trump.

G7 leaders pledged to accelerate deliveries of air defence systems, provide further support for Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and strengthen sanctions against Russia.

They also said they were “ready to consider” granting Ukraine licences for military production, a critical point since Kyiv badly needs the US-made anti-ballistic Patriot systems to fend off Russia’s relentless bombardment.

While the US president merely said he would “take a look” at the idea, that still marks progress on his earlier outright dismissal of the possibility.

Trump also said Washington might “soon” reinstate sanctions on Russian oil and gas, which were temporarily waived in recent weeks to ease the global energy crunch triggered by the war in Iran.

For the first time, the US president stated that it is Russia, not Ukraine, that “should make a deal.”

Middle East in focus

The Middle East dominated discussions, as leaders gathered shortly after the US and Iran announced a framework agreement to finalise a peace deal, the details of which leaked on the margins of the G7.

For Trump, the deal’s key provision is that Tehran will never acquire nuclear weapons and will reopen the Strait of Hormuz toll-free; in exchange, Iran would secure the lifting of all sanctions and the unfreezing of its assets.

Western leaders welcomed the memorandum of understanding far more enthusiastically than Trump’s allies did at home, hoping it would lead to a swift reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the closure of which has driven up energy prices and strained their economies.

In unprecedented remarks, Trump said Israel “could do better” against Hezbollah and called for moderation in southern Lebanon, even suggesting that Syria might do a better job of dismantling Iran’s proxy while causing fewer civilian casualties.

China, the elephant in the room

China was arguably the elephant in the room at this G7.

Wednesday’s discussion on “promoting balanced, shared and sustainable economic growth” was little more than diplomatic shorthand for a collective effort to address the shockwaves that Beijing’s state-led, subsidy-intensive economic model has unleashed.

“Global imbalances can have adverse economic impacts, especially on the poorest countries, although most of them do not contribute to imbalances,” reads the joint statement released at the end of the talks, with unmissable references to China.

“We further acknowledge the importance of coordinated action to reduce growing and persistent global imbalances. Reducing global imbalances could facilitate achieving more durable and balanced growth.”

The text also urges “countries with large and persistent external surpluses” (meaning China) to strengthen “domestic sources of growth” and avoid “distortive policies with negative spill overs”. It also calls for “coordinated action” and “specific policies” to tackle these imbalances, but does not spell them out.

It seems that, for the time being, G7 allies will go their own way.

AI takes centre stage

Artificial intelligence was a major topic at the G7, as the CEOs of Anthropic, OpenAI and other leading tech companies joined leaders for a working lunch on Wednesday to discuss how to ensure AI uptake while limiting the risks.

Washington’s recent decision to block foreign nationals from accessing Anthropic’s most powerful models loomed large in the discussion, as Western allies realised they too could be cut off from the US’s most advanced technology at a moment’s notice, just like everyone else.

AI was also at the centre of a joint declaration on online safety for children, which specifically flagged risks linked to conversational chatbots and synthetic child sexual abuse material.

G7 members and partners broadly converged on calling for tech companies to prioritise child safety in the design of digital services, though divisions remain over whether a social media ban is the most effective approach.

Macron’s victory lap

The summit was especially favourable for the host, French President Emmanuel Macron, who did not spare praise for his own diplomatic achievements.

Ahead of the summit, European officials sounded markedly pessimistic about the possibility of having joint statements on the most contentious issues. Last year in Canada, the host opted for a “chair’s summary” as an alternative after Trump left the meeting halfway and left a family picture incomplete.

This time, the G7 delivered a total of nine joint statements, including one touching upon Ukraine, the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific.

“This G7 was held in an extremely difficult context of global fragmentation, multiple crises, and conflicts, and that much can hinge on our discussions,” Macron said at the closing press conference, looking visibly satisfied.

“That’s why I can say that this G7 is objectively a success: it was a moment of unity, of quality discussion, and of genuine cooperation among the leaders who met here.”

Macron hailed an “Évian moment” that brought all leaders together for Ukraine.

Hot mics, a lot of hot mics

While the G7 summit shone for its meticulous organisation against the dreamlike landscapes of Évian-les-Bains, there was a remarkable amount of protocol faux pas.

Microphones were left generously open to let journalists hear the intimate conversation between leaders. We were given access to Macron and Zelenskyy’s walk through the garden, when the French president asked the Ukrainian: “Tonight, you are free?”

Then, it was Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, a notorious smoker, who was caught telling her fellow leaders that she had quit the habit “one month ago”.

“You stopped? Bravo!” Ursula von der Leyen replied.

The candid moment went viral online and earned personal congratulations from the World Health Organization’s director-general.

Another hot-mic moment saw Germany’s Friedrich Merz and Canada’s Mark Carney joke that Macron had left his watch on the table.

“Give me the watch, okay?” Trump jumped in.