G7 summit wraps with statements on AI, critical minerals but not Ukraine after US objects

No ‘strongly worded’ joint condemnation of Russia as Washington reportedly argues such an approach could undermine its ability to negotiate

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(From left) Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, French President Emmanuel Macron, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy pose for a photo during the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada, on Tuesday. Photo: AAP/dpa

Published: 7:10am, 18 Jun 2025Updated: 7:08am, 19 Jun 2025

The Group of 7 nations wrapped up their summit in Canada on Tuesday with six joint statements on subjects spanning AI, quantum computing and critical minerals but reportedly dropped plans to issue a seventh “strongly worded” statement on the Ukraine war after objections from the United States.

“Basically, no statement because the Americans wanted to water it down,” an unnamed Canadian official told reporters on condition of anonymity, according to AFP.

News services on Tuesday reported the proposed statement would have condemned Russia in no uncertain terms – a routine G7 stance before US President Donald Trump’s re-election – but that Washington had argued such an approach could undermine its ability to negotiate.

The other six member countries decided that the watered-down language would not have been fair to Ukraine, the official added, so they opted to reflect its contents in a statement issued by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Trump has repeatedly declined to blame Russia for invading Ukraine. On Monday, Trump repeated his claim that G7 members were essentially responsible for starting the Ukraine war when they expelled Russian President Vladimir Putin from the group in 2014 after Russia annexed Crimea.

This year’s annual G7, held in Kananaskis in the Canadian province of Alberta, was overshadowed by the American president’s departure a day early as the conflict between Israel and Iran raged, effectively turning the gathering into a G6.