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G7 Leaders Fail to Reach Key Agreements06/18 06:40
KANANASKIS, Alberta (AP) -- Six of the Group of Seven leaders discussed
Russia's war in Ukraine and the Israel-Iran conflict but failed to reach major
agreements on those and many other top issues -- closing a summit that was
forced to try and show how the wealthy nations' club might still shape global
policy despite the early departure of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and his counterparts from the U.K.,
France, Germany, Italy and Japan were joined during Tuesday's final sessions by
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and NATO chief Mark Rutte.
"We need support from allies and I'm here," Zelenskyy said, before adding,
"We are ready for the peace negotiations, unconditional ceasefire. I think it's
very important. But for this, we need pressure."
The remaining leaders agreed to jointly attempt to combat what they called
non-market policies that could jeopardize global access to critical minerals.
They also pledged to limit the downsides of artificial intelligence on jobs and
the environment, while still embracing the potential of the "technological
revolution."
There was consensus on other issues, but though the summit was meant to
showcase unity on top global concerns, no joint statement on the conflict in
Ukraine was released.
Zelenskyy had been set to meet with Trump while world leaders were gathering
in the Canadian Rocky Mountain resort of Kananaskis, but that was scrapped. The
U.S. also previously signed an agreement granting American access to Ukraine's
vast mineral resources.
A senior Canadian official who briefed reporters at the summit said the U.S.
opposed a joint statement on Ukraine amid its efforts to promote negotiations
with Russia. The official said it only became clear during the summit's first
day on Monday that there wouldn't be a joint statement -- though other
attendees suggested no consensus agreement was seriously on the table. Emily
Williams, a spokeswoman for the prime minister, later retracted the briefing
statement and said "no proposed statement regarding Ukraine was distributed to
other leaders."
In Trump's absence, the remaining six leaders held an extensive session on
Ukraine. Lacking unanimity, individual leaders also met with Zelenskyy to
reassure him of their support.
The summit also was largely overshadowed by a showdown over Iran's nuclear
program that could escalate. Israel launched an aerial bombardment campaign
against Iran, and Iran has hit back with missiles and drones.
French President Emmanuel Macron warned against the U.S. and other powers
pushing for regime change in Iran, suggesting it could destabilize the greater
Middle East.
"I believe the greatest mistake today would be to pursue regime change in
Iran through military means, as that would lead to chaos," Macron said.
Before leaving, Trump joined the other leaders in issuing a statement saying
Iran "can never have a nuclear weapon" and calling for a "de-escalation of
hostilities in the Middle East, including a ceasefire in Gaza." Getting
unanimity -- even on a short and broadly worded statement -- was a modest
measure of success.
Macron said Carney fulfilled his mission as G7 host by preserving the unity
of the multilateral organization. "We shouldn't ask the Canadian presidency to
resolve every issue on earth today. That would be unfair," said Macron, who
will host the G7 next year.
Carney said in his final remarks Tuesday evening that Trump's early exit was
about the "extraordinary" situation in the Middle East, not anything that
occurred during the summit.
"There was no problem," Canada's prime minister said. "Mr. Trump felt it was
better to be in Washington, and I can understand that."
Carney said Canada would impose new economic sanctions against Russia and
was releasing its own statement offering "unwavering support for a secure and
sovereign Ukraine." Asked if the U.S. pushed to soften any possible joint
statement from the gathered leaders on Ukraine, Carney said he consulted with
Trump while preparing the language his own country used.
Still, Trump's departure only served to heighten the drama of a world on the
verge of several firestorms -- and of a summit deprived early of its
most-watched world leader. `
"We did everything I had to do at the G7," Trump said while flying back to
Washington. But things were getting awkward even before he left.
After the famous photo from the G7 in 2018 featured Trump and then-German
Chancellor Angela Merkel displaying less-than-friendly body language, this
year's edition included a dramatic eye-roll by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia
Meloni as French President Emmanuel Macron whispered something in her ear
during a Monday roundtable.
That, and concerns about the Russia-Ukraine war, little progress on the
conflict in Gaza and now the situation in Iran have made things all the more
tense -- especially after Trump imposed severe tariffs on multiple nations that
risk a global economic slowdown.
Members of Trump's trade team remained in Canada to continue discussing
tariffs, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who sat at the table as
world leaders met with Zelenskyy.
Trump's stance on Ukraine also put him fundamentally at odds with the other
G7 leaders, who are clear that Russia is the aggressor in the war. The U.S.
declined to join new sanctions against Russia, with Trump saying, "When I
sanction a country, that costs the U.S. a lot of money, a tremendous amount of
money."
Trump also said at the summit that there would have been no war in Ukraine
if G7 members hadn't expelled Putin from the organization in 2014 for annexing
Crimea. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the G7 now looks "very pale and
quite useless" compared to "for example, such formats as the G20."
Additionally, the U.S. president has placed greater priority on addressing
his grievances with other nations' trade policies than on collaboration with G7
allies.
He has imposed 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum, as well as 25% tariffs on
autos. Trump is also charging a 10% tax on imports from most countries, though
he could raise rates on July 9, after the 90-day negotiating period set by him
would expire.
One bright spot for Trump during the summit came when he and British Prime
Minister Keir Starmersigned a trade framework that was previously announced in
May. Trump said British trade was "very well protected" because "I like them,
that's why. That's their ultimate protection."
But, while announcing that agreement, Trump brandished pages spelling out
the deal and dropped them. Starmer stooped to pick them up, later explaining
that he was compelled to ditch diplomatic decorum because anyone else trying to
help risked spooking the president's security team.
"There were quite strict rules about who can get close to the president,"
Starmer said, adding that he was "just deeply conscious that in a situation
like that it would not have been good for anybody else to have stepped forward."
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