EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France, June 17 - The leaders of the Group of Seven nations said on Wednesday they are united in backing Ukraine, including its territorial integrity, and will step up pressure on the Russian war economy.
In a joint statement issued at the summit in the French town of Evian-les-Bains, the leaders said they will intensify sanctions. "In this context, we will strengthen our sanctions (against Russia), including those on the oil and gas sectors," the statement said.
Separately, summit participants expressed support for a diplomatic development between the United States and Iran. The leaders welcomed the deal and said they are prepared to contribute to its implementation.
Energy security measures also featured in the leaders' communique. They said they will make efforts to diversify energy supply routes, reduce dependence on the Strait of Hormuz and increase energy stocks.
What the leaders agreed - in brief:
- Continued, united support for Ukraine, explicitly including its territorial integrity.
- An intention to strengthen sanctions aimed at the Russian economy, with explicit reference to the oil and gas sectors.
- A welcome for the United States-Iran deal and a stated readiness among G7 members to contribute to implementing that agreement.
- Commitments to reduce reliance on a key maritime chokepoint by diversifying supply routes and to build energy stockpiles.
The joint statement encapsulates the summit's dual focus: reinforcing political and economic pressure on Russia while addressing energy vulnerabilities through diversification and increased reserves. The leaders framed these steps as complementary actions intended to uphold Ukraine's sovereignty and to shore up energy resilience among G7 members.
The communique did not provide implementation details for the sanctions escalation or for the contributions toward the US-Iran agreement. Nor did it set out precise timelines or the scale of energy stock increases. The statement instead records a collective political intent by the participating governments.
Observers at the summit emphasized unity of purpose among the G7 leaders, as reflected in the language of the joint statement. The document ties together foreign policy, economic sanctions and energy policy as linked elements of the group's response.