As well as trying (and failing) to push their G7 counterparts to go softer on Iran and to take a tougher stance against Israel, European leaders wanted a joint statement condemning Russia.
A Canadian official—speaking on condition of anonymity—revealed on Tuesday that six members had agreed on “strong language” relating to the war in Ukraine, but this was blocked by the U.S. which argued it could damage Russia’s ability to negotiate. The official said:
Basically no statement because the Americans wanted to water it down.
This marked a significant shift from last year’s summit, attended by then-U.S. President Joe Biden, which denounced Russian “aggression.” Europe’s desired wording on Ukraine was likewise in stark contrast to its enthusiasm for diplomatic negotiations when it comes to Israel-Iran, as we previously reported here.
Donald Trump also effectively accused other world leaders of facilitating Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by preventing diplomacy with Moscow, saying that if Russia had not been thrown out of (what was) the G8 in 2014—for annexing Crimea—“you wouldn’t have had the war.”
Sergiy Kyslytsya, Ukraine’s first deputy foreign minister, responded by suggesting the U.S. should also be booted from the (what is) the G7.
G6 🤷
— Sergiy Kyslytsya 🇺🇦 (@SergiyKyslytsya) June 17, 2025
Despite breaking from the U.S. on many points during the summit, Brussels officials have this week spoken more strongly in support of Israel than at any time in recent memory.
Following a call with Benjamin Netanyahu over the weekend, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen accepted that “Iran is the principal source of regional instability” and “Israel has the right to defend itself.” She was, of course, later attacked by European—mostly Irish—leftists for what was one of her few sound comments over the past few years.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also praised Israel on Tuesday for doing the “dirty work” for “all of us.” Israel’s foreign ministry said it was grateful for the German leader’s “moral clarity.”
— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) June 17, 2025
Michael Curzon is a news writer for europeanconservative.com based in England’s Midlands. He is also Editor of Bournbrook Magazine, which he founded in 2019, and previously wrote for London’s Express Online. His Twitter handle is @MichaelCurzon_.
