Nicolai Haugsted
The president made a controversial yet not unusual entrance at the G7 summit.
Wednesday’s G7 summit offered a reminder that Donald Trump rarely sticks to the script.
While taking his seat alongside fellow leaders in the French resort town of Evian-les-Bains, the U.S. president joked to those gathered — and to reporters watching nearby — that “I’m the boss.”
The remark drew attention, but discussions behind closed doors focused on far weightier matters, including the war in Ukraine, relations with Iran, and growing concerns over China’s dominance of critical minerals.
Ukraine Gains Ground at the G7
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy arrived at the summit seeking support for a message he has pushed for months: Ukraine is not losing the war, and Russia should not be allowed to dictate the terms of any future peace settlement.
By the end of the summit, G7 leaders had issued a joint statement backing Ukraine and announcing additional sanctions targeting Russia, according to Reuters.
Several European leaders suggested Trump appeared more receptive to Kyiv’s arguments than in previous years.
French President Emmanuel Macron said the American leader had shown a “real change in approach” toward the conflict.
Trump himself also adopted language that stood out from some of his earlier comments on the war, describing Russia as the aggressor and noting that Moscow was suffering heavier battlefield losses than Ukraine.
Iran Deal Welcomed — With Reservations
Another major topic was the recently announced framework agreement between Washington and Tehran.
G7 leaders publicly welcomed the preliminary deal and signaled a willingness to help support its implementation. Behind the scenes, however, European diplomats remained cautious.
Concerns persist that negotiations over Iran’s nuclear activities, ballistic missile program and regional influence could prove far more difficult than securing a ceasefire framework.
Trump also made clear that he views the current agreement as a starting point rather than a finished product.
“If I don’t like it, if they don’t behave, we’ll go right back to dropping bombs right smack in the middle of their head, OK?” he told reporters.
European officials largely avoided public criticism but privately stressed that a lasting settlement will require far more detailed negotiations than those completed so far.
Reducing Dependence on China
Economic security featured prominently on the agenda as well.
Leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation aimed at reducing reliance on China for strategically important minerals used in defense systems, advanced technology and renewable energy infrastructure.
Plans discussed at the summit include closer coordination of stockpiles and a larger role for the International Energy Agency in monitoring supply chains.
Western governments have increasingly viewed access to critical minerals as a national security issue, particularly as demand continues to rise across multiple industries.
AI Also on the Agenda
Artificial intelligence received significant attention during discussions between political leaders and technology executives.
OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman and Anthropic chief executive Dario Amodei were among those participating in conversations about the growing influence of AI systems.
Topics reportedly included the reliability of AI-generated information, accountability for automated systems and the broader impact the technology could have on economies and societies.
Although Ukraine and Iran dominated headlines, the summit highlighted a wider effort among Western leaders to address challenges stretching from battlefield conflicts to emerging technologies and global supply chains.
