G7 leaders, meeting at the summit in Evian (France), have agreed on a joint declaration pledging “unwavering support for Ukraine” and committing to increase the pressure on the Russian war economy.
In the document, published shortly after midnight on Wednesday, the leaders committed to boosting weapons deliveries to Kyiv, with a specific focus on air defense capacities, additional systems and interceptors, as well as long-range capabilities. Furthermore, the G7 expressed readiness to consider expanding licensing to allow for an increase in Ukraine’s own military production. This support comes at a time when Kyiv is in dire need of US-made “Patriot” anti-ballistic missile systems, and ahead of the upcoming winter, when Russia typically targets Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
Parallel to the military assistance, the G7 announced a tightening of sanctions on the Russian oil and gas sectors. French President Emmanuel Macron described this moment as a “strategic wake-up call,” emphasizing that the decisions were backed by all members.
A key factor for this step is the new framework agreement between the US and Iran to end hostilities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. This diplomatic success by US President Donald Trump, who is mentioned three times in the declaration, eases the global energy crunch and opens up room for maneuver. Trump hinted that Washington would soon be in a position to reimpose sanctions on Russian energy exports, which had previously been suspended until mid-June.
Beyond the direct focus on the war in Ukraine, the joint declaration also addressed broader global security and geopolitical challenges. G7 leaders firmly opposed any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion in the East and South China Seas, as well as across the Taiwan Strait, while simultaneously adopting thematic policy declarations on global health, fighting drug trafficking, and tackling migrant smuggling.
