G7 leaders open summit talks on Ukraine and West Asia as Zelenskyy joins in France

G7 leaders have convened in Évian-les-Bains, France, for a high-stakes summit on June 15-17, 2026, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy joining the discussions amid escalating Russian aggression and a major US-Iran diplomatic breakthrough. The urgent agenda confronts the multifaceted crises in Ukraine and West Asia, notably addressing a fresh Russian missile barrage on Ukrainian cities that killed 11, and the implications of a tentative US-Iran peace deal that seeks to stabilize the Strait of Hormuz. The gathering unfolds as the West grapples with sustaining pressure on Moscow while navigating shifting geopolitical sands, particularly the overshadowing effect of the Iran agreement. French President Emmanuel Macron is pressing for continued robust support for Kyiv, including strengthening air defenses and leveraging a €45 billion ($50 billion) G7 loan collateralized by frozen Russian assets to bolster Ukraine's finances and reconstruction efforts. Concurrently, the Middle East crisis sees leaders, joined by Egypt, Qatar, and the UAE, evaluating new Israeli-Palestinian civil society proposals aimed at a two-state solution and exploring how to ensure maritime security and global energy flow through the critical Strait of Hormuz. As the summit progresses, attention will hinge on tangible commitments for Ukraine's long-term security, including its EU membership aspirations, and definitive steps towards a lasting peace in West Asia. The G7's ability to forge a unified strategy across these complex, interconnected crises will serve as a critical test of Western leadership in an increasingly fragmented global order, with a joint communique or summary expected to outline immediate next steps and long-term objectives.