Putin and Xi Discuss G7 Conference Outcomes
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a conversation on Thursday, discussing the outcomes of the recent G7 summit in Canada. They particularly noted the tensions that have arisen among different participating nations.
The Kremlin mentioned that the leaders concentrated on some notable discord among the G7 members. “There were, you know, definitely rough spots in their relationships,” stated a Kremlin representative.
Kremlin spokesman Yuri Ushakov also pointed out that President Zelensky’s trip abroad was not exactly successful. During the hour-long conversation, Putin and Xi covered topics beyond the G7 conference, including the upcoming BRICS summit in Brazil and ongoing issues surrounding the conflict between Israel and Iran.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attended the G7 summit in Canada but had to adjust his schedule. He was present on the final day, Tuesday, but missed out on interactions with other leaders, especially after President Donald Trump made an early departure back to Washington to address the Israel-Iran conflict.
This was also the first international trip for South Korean President Lee Jae-myung. Along with him, Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi missed the meeting due to Trump’s sudden exit.
Zelensky cut his trip short, returning to Ukraine before the G7 ended. He was initially set to attend several events in Calgary, including a press conference, but they were all cancelled. Ukrainian officials suggested that the recent missile attack in Kyiv was a significant reason behind his early departure, and it seemed he was quite frustrated about not having a moment with Trump.
“Even if the U.S. president isn’t applying enough pressure on Russia, the fact is that the U.S. still possesses the most extensive global interests and allies needing robust support,” he commented.
Zelensky expressed to the remaining G7 leaders that “diplomacy is in crisis,” criticizing Trump for not leveraging his influence to help conclude the war with Russia.
Canadian officials had hoped for a joint declaration on the war in Ukraine to be issued by the G7, but that idea fell flat when Trump pushed back against addressing Iran in the proposed statement.
Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada clarified that there had never been a plan for a unified statement regarding Ukraine, stating that Iran’s situation required focused attention from the G7 leaders.
As a G7 chair, Carney noted, “The leaders expressed their support for President Trump’s efforts in paving the way for a fair peace in Ukraine, recognizing that both parties must agree to an unconditional ceasefire.”
He added that the G7 was determined to explore various means to increase pressure on Russia, including financial sanctions.
On Tuesday, Canada announced a substantial military aid package for Ukraine, equivalent to 1.5 billion U.S. dollars. The package would include drones, helicopters, and ammunition, along with 2 billion dollars in development loans funded by frozen Russian assets.
Zelensky expressed gratitude for the backing received from the G7 nations, emphasizing the need for ongoing support not just for defense but also in rebuilding Ukraine post-conflict.
An article from the New York Times highlighted the tensions surrounding discussions of Ukraine, despite the G7’s joint statement on Iran. Germany accused Israel of handling Iran’s nuclear program improperly, while France cautioned against military interventions that could lead to chaos.
French President Emmanuel Macron voiced strong opposition to such actions, questioning if anyone believed past interventions, like those in Iraq in 2003 or Libya in the subsequent decade, were justified.
