G7 summit: US to focus again on Ukraine after deal with Iran, Trump says

The day in Évian draws to an end with a working dinner among the leaders focused on "major international challenges".

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Credit: Associated Press

The framework deal reached on Sunday between the United States and Iran is a "very bad deal", John Bolton has told Euronews' Maria Tadeo, who says Tehran played Donald Trump "like a violin".

Bolton, who served as national security advisor under Trump in his first term, says the US president did not take into account the "geo-strategic implications" of the negotiations and simply focused on reopening the Strait of Hormuz to bring down energy prices ahead of the crucial midterm elections.

"If it were a great deal, it would be out in public, and I think that tells you pretty much all you need to know," Bolton said.

"I think it's embarrassing for the president. I think there will be some indication of unfreezing Iranian assets (..) and I think it's a mistake to give this brutal theocracy any of the assets," he went on.

Bolton noted the US and Israel had inflicted "enormous damage" to Iran's military capabilities but dismissed the prospect of a new nuclear deal as a "fantasy" due to previous failed attempts.

The Iranians have seen "for weeks, if not months, that Trump is desperate for a deal. He's desperate for a deal, and they have manoeuvred him, they have played him like a violin, that's why they got the deal that they wanted," Bolton said.

Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte are currently greeting the G7 leaders and their spouses and posing for photographers.

But not everybody brought a +1!

Credit: Associated Press

Seated alongside French President Emmanuel Macron at a press conference ahead of the G7 summit in Evian, U.S. President Donald Trump praised the framework agreement reached between the United States and Iran the previous night. Trump remarked that “we got on very well with Iran,” adding that the country now has “a different set of leaders.”

Referring to the Strait of Hormuz—through which roughly 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas supplies typically pass—Trump said the waterway would be “completely open” by Friday.

He stated that most of the mines would have been cleared by then, adding, “We already have a lot of lanes open right now.” Trump also described the strait as “toll free” and suggested that additional assistance might not be necessary, saying, “I don’t think we’re going to need help, a ship or two…”

Earlier, Macron indicated that France stood ready to contribute to any international effort, noting that it could deploy aircraft and a mine-clearing frigate “within two to three days” if an agreement among partners is reached.

G7 leaders are gathering in Évian 🇫🇷, — and the stakes could not be higher.
Can Europe persuade Trump to re-engage on Ukraine? What does the Iran framework deal mean for energy markets? Can Macron hold G7 unity together?

Special Report with @mariatadhttps://t.co/Rve1LoJ3Pb pic.twitter.com/X6lCMAiA33

— euronews (@euronews) June 15, 2026

The bilateral meeting between Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron is off to a good start, it seems.

"Emmanuel has been a special friend of mine. We've had a fantastic relationship. We've worked on many deals together," Trump told Macron in front of reporters in Évian.

"I want to thank you for your help. You've always been a help," he added.

The US president also talked about the UFC fight night that he hosted on the White House grounds on Sunday as part of his country's 250th anniversary celebrations.

"I called last night, very late last night, to congratulate you because in the heavyweight division, the French fighter won. I don't know, is that maybe more important than the World Cup? To some people, it might," Trump told Macron, who laughed.

"You have a good team in the World Cup, a very good team. But you have good fighters too. And you're a great country, and it's an honour to be with you. Thank you very much."

Credits: Associated Press.

Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron just had a brief interaction with the media before their bilateral meeting.

During his introductory remarks, the US president hailed the framework deal with Iran and said that, as a result of that, his administration will turn the diplomatic focus back to Russia's war on Ukraine. The US-led peace talks have stalled since the start of the conflict in the Middle East.

Trump spoke separately with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday.

"We had a very good conversation yesterday with President Zelensky and President Putin, and I see maybe we can do something, I really do. I think they're both open to it," Trump said next to Macron. "So, you know, now that this (Iran) is finished, we're going to be focusing on that (and) see if we can get that one done."

International Monetary Fund chief Kristalina Georgieva welcomed the ceasefire announcement in the Middle East on Monday but emphasized that restoring stability to energy supplies remains a critical priority.

“Much depends on the duration and intensity of the energy supply shock,” she wrote in an IMF blog post, adding that “the sooner it is resolved, the better—especially as supply will take time to recover given the significant infrastructure damage.”

“Should the conflict or disruptions intensify, this is a clear risk to global growth.”

The IMF will present its forecasts for the global economy on 8 July, she said.

“More than three months into the war in the Middle East, the global economy appears to be holding up,” she added, saying that commodity prices, inflation and financial conditions had been affected, “but not yet in ways that signal a global slowdown.”

It's fair to say that Donald Trump will be the centre of attention at this G7 summit. He governs the world's largest economy and has the power to effect geopolitical change at will, often without consulting with his (supposedly) closest allies.

The host, Emmanuel Macron, is chiefly focused on keeping the discussions on track, avoiding headline-making fiascos and ensuring that Trump stays until the end of the summit. Remember: Trump left last year's G7 meeting in Canada halfway through, adding to the impression of a fractured alliance.

To head off another such incident, Macron has flattered Trump's penchant for gold-plated luxury with an invitation to dinner at the Palace of Versailles on Wednesday night.

Macron is keen to portray the G7 as unified in the face of unfair Chinese competition – but Trump's China policy continues to baffle Europeans. His zeal for aggressive action appears to have dwindled considerably since his much-publicised meeting with Xi Jinping in May, where the two men lavished praise on each other.

It is unclear how far the other G7 members will dare to go if Trump refuses to jump on board. At any rate, no concrete decision is expected this week. But the talks could pave the way for something tangible down the line.

Meanwhile, the leaders of France, the UK and Germany intend to get Trump discussing new ways to reinvigorate the peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, which have been stalled for months.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will attend a dedicated session in Évian tomorrow morning, when the elephant in the room will be the sanctions waiver that the US has granted to Russian oil in response to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

The question is whether Trump will change his mind following a preliminary deal with Iran and be convinced to tighten the screws on Moscow. Trump still resents the fact that Europeans ignored his calls for military support during his strikes on Iran, so public recriminations cannot be ruled out this week.

Speaking at a news conference in Evian-les-Bains ahead of the G7 summit, Ursula von der Leyen commented on the possibility of lifting sanctions, saying "if behavior is changing credibly and verifiably, then you can lift sanctions, but the other way around is also true." pic.twitter.com/9zLbruSJJG

— euronews (@euronews) June 15, 2026

Donald Trump has arrived at the G7 summit in Évian.

"Everything is very nice," he told reporters who shouted questions at him.

The US president then stepped inside the hotel.

EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič said on Monday that EU-China relations needed a “reset” and that engagement with Beijing had to deliver “concrete outcomes.”

“Our trading relationship with China has reached a point that requires a reset, not confrontation, but rebalancing,” Šefčovič said after a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg, adding that the “status quo” was no longer sustainable “economically or politically.”

He also said the EU must engage with China and that dialogue had to be “open and structured so that it drives concrete outcomes and notably better market access with fairer conditions, level playing fields while preventing escalation.”

The EU faces a €1 billion-a-day trade deficit with China, with the European accusing Beijing of unfair trade practices, including dumping.

The commissioner said the situation requires both “sharpened instruments like anti-subsidy, anti-dumping and safeguards” and “member states unity behind them”.

US President Donald Trump has landed at Geneva Airport, from where he will head to the G7 summit in Évian, right across the border.

Upon exiting Air Force One, Trump was welcomed by Guy Parmelin, the president of the Swiss Confederation.

Newt Gingrich, the former speaker of the US House of Representatives, and his wife, Callista Gingrich, were seen alongside Trump.

Credit: Associated Press

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has arrived at Évian-les-Bains, joined by his wife Victoria.

Like almost all of the politicians arriving for the talks at the lakeside Hotel Royal, he did not take questions from journalists upon arrival.

Yesterday, Starmer met with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who is also present at the G7, at Number 10 Downing Street. A readout from the meeting celebrated "upgrading the strategic partnership" between London and Tokyo.

During the press conference ahead of the G7 summit, Ursula von der Leyen said the EU should draw the lessons from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which disrupted worldwide energy supplies and sent prices soaring for industry and households, and explore alternative routes.

"Once again, we've seen our energy dependency being weaponised. So we will, in this framework, discuss how to reduce our dependence on transit through the strait," the European Commission president said. "Alternative export routes have been created that are more resilient and offer choices, and other routes will be built."

Von der Leyen used the planned connectivity project between Europe, Saudi Arabia and India, known as IMEC, as an example.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi have pledged to strengthen bilateral cooperation in sectors that will define the next decade, including energy, robotics, semiconductors and defence.

The leaders met in Rome on Monday ahead of the G7 summit, signing an intergovernmental memorandum of understanding aimed at reinforcing supply chain resilience in technology and semiconductors.

"Italy and Japan are, of course, strategic allies destined to work together because they know that together they can shape the present and the future," Meloni said.

Takaichi welcomed the memorandum and said both countries aimed to deepen strategic cooperation on economic security. She also underlined the importance of building stronger connections between the Indo-Pacific and the Mediterranean to boost resilience in energy security and defence.

The two leaders announced plans to launch joint initiatives in Africa and the Arctic, with more concrete details expected to be unveiled at the margin of the G20 later this year.

There can be no lasting peace in the Middle East "while Lebanon remains in flames", Ursula von der Leyen said ahead of the G7 summit.

"Let me also underline that there can be no lasting peace while Lebanon remains in flames," the European Commission president said. "We call for a genuine ceasefire and the full respect for Lebanon's sovereignty."

Standing by her side, António Costa, the president of the European Council, said the preliminary deal must ensure Lebanon's "full and integral" sovereignty.

Soon after the US and Iran reached a framework deal to end the war on "all fronts," Israeli authorities said the army would not withdraw from the parts of southern Lebanon it has seized.

The EU has invested considerably in Lebanon's stability, and fears that a deterioration in the situation could cause a new wave of Mediterranean migration.

Credit: Associated Press

Ursula von der Leyen has urged G7 allies to close ranks to effectively address the multiple challenges posed by China's state-led economy, one of the summit's key topics.

"There is a general understanding that unity and coordination among G7 is paramount in this topic. We all experience the same patterns in our economies," the European Commission president said at a press conference ahead of the meeting in Évian. "Unity is the precondition for G7 to achieve a level playing field globally."

She noted that 2025 was the first time in history that all the 27 members of the European Union had recorded a trade deficit with China.

"This is, of course, not sustainable," she said.

The Commission is currently looking into ways to diversify supply chains, boost domestic production of strategic sectors and address trade distortions, such as subsidies and coercion. Critical raw materials, an industry that Beijing comfortably dominates, will feature prominently in the G7 talks.

António Costa, the president of the European Council, has urged Russia to engage in "serious" peace negotiations to stop its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

"This conflict has now lasted longer than the First World War. The human cost is immense and continues to rise," Costa said at a press conference ahead of the G7 summit. "Russia must understand that time is not on its side."

Standing by his side, Ursula von der Leyen praised Ukraine for "holding the frontline and even partially regaining territory", and inflicting pain on Russia's economy with long-range attacks.

"Russia is feeling the strain and pressure. Our sanctions are biting and cutting deep. Putin's war economy has never been as weak," the European Commission president said.

Von der Leyen noted that Kyiv will soon receive the first payment under the EU's €90 billion support loan, which is designed to cover "two-thirds" of Ukraine's needs for 2026 and 2027. The remaining third, she stressed, should be covered by the other Western allies.

Credit: Associated Press

Speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of the G7 in Évian,  European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that any EU decision to lift sanctions on Iran—following the US–Iran framework deal agreed the previous night—would depend on “real change on the ground.”

The EU has a number of sanctions against Iran in place including on the violation of human rights, and on weapons of mass destruction, Von der Leyen said. "And the principle of sanctions is that we need real change on the ground before we can think about lifting them".

"Sanctions are in place to change behaviour. So if behaviour is changing credibly and verifiably, then you can lift sanctions," she added.

The United States and Iran announced a framework agreement to end the war. The deal is set to be formally signed in Switzerland on Friday.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said that Japan’s top priority at the G7 is the situation in the Middle East and the need to ensure energy and food security.

“As a country with limited natural resources, Japan intends to make an active contribution to G7 discussions by drawing on its extensive experience and strong expertise in energy security,” Takaichi told French newspaper Le Figaro.

She added that Japan was working on both an “emergency response” to supply Asia with oil and petroleum products and a “structural response” to optimise industrial systems through the storage and release of strategic reserves.

Tokyo’s objective is also to help secure critical minerals and diversify energy sources, she said.

It launched “Powerr Asia” last April, a framework aimed at helping Asian countries work together, as they are among the most affected by disruptions to energy and resource flows through the Strait of Hormuz.

The peace process aimed at ending Russia’s war against Ukraine is faltering “not for lack of trying”, Baiba Braže, Latvia’s foreign minister said on Monday, as G7 leaders gathered in France.

Speaking to Euronews on the sidelines of an EU foreign ministers’ meeting in Luxembourg, Braže said that “everybody has tried” to advance diplomacy, including Ukraine, the US and the European Union.

“There is no outcome because of Russia’s unwillingness to put forward acceptable proposals,” she said.

Braže highlighted Moscow’s efforts to obtain at the negotiating table territorial gains it has been unable to secure militarily, along with what she described as demands that would weaken Ukrainian identity.

She said that a new wave of Russian strikes overnight on June 15 reinforced her argument, particularly as they followed Donald Trump's back-to-back calls with Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin.

“For me, it is a sign that Russia is not able to take Ukraine or occupy Kyiv by force - so it is trying to eliminate Ukrainian identity,” she said.

Braže added that the attacks had targeted one of Ukraine’s most significant religious and cultural landmarks, the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra.

“The complex is older than Notre-Dame in Paris, older than the Russian state itself,” she said. “Unable to take it by force, they are trying to erase it.”

Shipping and maritime security experts warn that even after an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, regular vessel traffic may not fully resume for several weeks, as authorities still need to confirm that the waterway is free of naval mines.

Five western maritime security sources told Reuters that mine-clearing operations — using both conventional minesweepers and advanced underwater drones — could take between 40 and 50 days. Until then, insurers, shipping companies and energy firms are unlikely to have sufficient confidence to restore regular transit through the strait.

"We still consider it very risky for ships to commence transits at this point," said Jakob Larsen, chief safety and security officer at BIMCO. "The threat of mines in the area remains a concern, both in the immediate term and further ahead, and safe, mine-free shipping routes must first be established.”

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei says regional visits to Lebanon are foreseen before the signing of the agreement with the US in Switzerland on Friday.

Baghaei said Lebanon is a critical part of the memorandum of understanding, which repeatedly refers to 'Lebanon', reflecting the country's strategic importance in the reconciliation process.

"As the agreement was reaching its final stages, the Israeli regime carried out a terrorist attack on a residential area in Lebanon, killing a senior Hezbollah commander along with a number of civilians,” Baghaei told reporters.

“Despite this act, the Islamic Republic of Iran, prioritising its broader interests and those of the resistance front, did not allow diplomatic momentum to be derailed, and the crime ultimately became an opportunity to further strengthen unity within this front," the Iranian spokesman added.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday that he offered to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin at this week's G7 summit for ​talks to put an end to Russia’s war against Ukraine – but that Putin rejected the idea.

Speaking at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, which hit by Russia in an overnight attack, Ukraine’s president said the US had agreed to invite Putin to the gathering, ​which starts on Monday in Évian-les-Bains.

"We gave message that we ​are ready to meet with Putin during (the) G7, because Trump is ⁠there and Macron is there, so Europeans plus America. This is a good, ​I think, very good opportunity to meet all together," Zelenskyy told reporters in Kyiv.

"Europe ​and the United States were agreed and Russia demonstrated again that...they are not ready to speak," he said.

Kyiv reportedly told Washington and Paris about the proposal for talks at the G7 and delivered the ​invitation directly to Russian counterparts, but received no clear answer.

Zelenskyy also sent an open letter earlier this month inviting Putin to hold face-to-face talks, suggesting Switzerland as a possible venue.

Emmanuel Macron said today he is “optimistic” that G7 leaders would reach an agreement on critical raw materials, with a text currently being discussed among the seven countries.

"We all need access to critical minerals and rare earths. Existing dependencies remain,” Macron said, adding that the future agreement would allow countries to “cooperate to diversify” sources of supply.

Last year, the world was forced to confront China’s export controls on rare earths, which are essential for green technologies and defence industries, during a trade war with the US.

Macron said he was “optimistic” about reaching such a deal to avoid the kind of disruptions to daily life that the world experienced during the Covid pandemic.

French President Emmanuel Macron said the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) must play a key role in ensuring that Iran won't enrich uranium above the levels seen as "peaceful".

Macron said "the enriched uranium must either be removed and placed in a third country, or diluted on-site. It is then essential to ensure IAEA oversight. There must be monitoring of the sites."

The French leader and host of the G7 summit, stressed the IAEA's role in maintaining stability in the Middle East a few days after the Austrian-based atomic agency backed a US resolution ordering Iran to account for its remaining enriched uranium and grant inspectors access to verify its stockpiles.

The agreement between the United States and Iran must include a chapter "on Iranian nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities," Macron said. "Our priority is that a solid and serious agreement be finalised."

Despite the news of an imminent end of the conflict, Macron said that the EU-led mission to ensure stability across the Strait of Hormuz could be deployed within 2-3 days after the United States and Iran sign an official peace deal in Switzerland on Friday.

Ahead of today’s G7 summit, the Swiss city of Geneva has seen significant unrest, with protesters taking to the streets to voice their opposition to the gathering. Some of the world’s wealthiest nations are in attendance with a swag of business people, particularly those working in the realm of artificial intelligence.

A violent standoff extended late Sunday afternoon in Geneva after a series of incidents — including a car set ablaze and a bank's windows smashed — along the route of a march that drew an estimated 20,000 people.

Early on during the march, firefighters extinguished a Tesla that was set ablaze next to the central bus stop and a troop of riot police cordoned off a secure area as a crowd congregated nearby.

The demonstration had been previously organised by activist groups after weeks of negotiations with local authorities was otherwise peaceful.

On Sunday evening, Euronews reported a sharp, peppery smell lingering on Platform 6 at Geneva Cornavin station, a clear indication that tear gas had drifted through parts of the city.

As the train departed the station, protesters carrying anti-G7 placards could be seen on other platforms, presumably making their way home after a day of demonstrations and activism.

Credit: Associated Press

Emmanuel Macron has called for “firm discussions” with Donald Trump after the US president threatened to impose tariffs on French champagne and wine over the digital tax Paris levies on big tech companies.

"That’s not how it works. We have reached an agreement on tariffs, and now what is needed is stability,” Macron said in an interview with French media, adding that the G7 would seek to resolve the issue through “firm” and “respectful” discussions.

Europeans are due to vote on Tuesday on the EU-US trade deal struck last summer, which caps US tariffs on EU goods at 15 percent.

"Tariffs do no one any good, including the United States," Macron said.

On Monday, Trump said the US would impose a 100 percent tariff on French champagne and wine if France does not scrap its 3 percent tax on revenue generated in France by US-based big tech companies.

French President Emmanuel Macron told French broadcaster TF1 that “we must do everything" to implement the framework agreement reached between Washington and Tehran yesterday evening.

As part of those efforts, France could deploy aircraft and a mine-clearing frigate, which Macron said could be sent “within two to three days” if an international agreement is reached.

Macron also stressed that the Strait of Hormuz should remain open to free navigation after U.S. President Donald Trump said the deal with Iran would ensure the waterway remained “permanently toll-free.”

“We’ll do everything we can to make sure there are no tolls,” the French president said.

We have more arrivals: this time, it's Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, and António Costa, the president of the European Council.

Credit: Associated Press

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi have held a bilateral meeting in Rome today ahead of the G7 in France.

Japan’s role in Asia is becoming more important for Europeans as relations with China continue to deteriorate in an overall context of trade uncertainty.

Japan will also be taking the opportunity of the summit to discuss joint stockpiling of critical minerals with G7 partners.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Monday morning his government will ban the use of social media platforms including TikTok, Instagram and X by under-16s, saying it wants "to give kids their childhood back".

The UK government says the social media ban will follow the same model as the one put in place by Australia, the first of its kind in the world. That ban took legal effect last December, and places the obligation on the social media companies rather than young people or their families.

France and other EU countries are also looking into a possible national ban for minors, prompting European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to commit to developing a potential proposal for an EU-wide social media ban by this summer to avoid the bloc's fragmentation on the matter.

Online child safety is expected to be discussed at the G7 summit this week. While there is a growing consensus among Western nations that tech companies should not be allowed to disregard the wellbeing of minors, there is also a deep divide between those pushing for a full-on ban and those who support a more targeted approach.

UK's Keir Starmer announces social media ban for under-16-year-olds

Australia, Canada, Brazil and Indonesia have introduced legislation or announced age-based restrictions or requirements for children’s access to social media.…

The host of the G7 summit, Emmanuel Macron, has arrived at the venue.

This marks the French president's last G7 after almost 10 years in office. Under the French constitution, he is barred from running for a third consecutive term.

"Welcome, everybody," he told reporters, before joining Braziliain President Lula da Silva inside.

Credit: Associated Press

Before making their way to the G7, Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, and António Costa, the president of the European Council, met this morning with Guy Parmelin, the president of the Swiss Confederation. (Reminder: Évian is right across the Swiss border.)

The meeting comes a day after Swiss voters’ rejection of a contentious initiative that would have capped the wealthy country's population at 10 million people. The referendum was closely watched in Brussels because, had it been approved, it would have derailed the complex agreement between the EU and Switzerland that enables freedom of movement and access to the single market.

"At a time of global economic and political turbulence, our latest package of agreements modernises our relationship and will contribute to the stability, prosperity, and economic and legal security of citizens and businesses on both sides," Costa said on social media.

This morning in Geneva, we met with the President of the Swiss Confederation @ParmelinG who informed us on the results of yesterday’s referendum.

The EU and Switzerland are close partners with deep ties.

At a time of global economic and political turbulence, our latest… pic.twitter.com/OI2COViiN9

— António Costa (@eucopresident) June 15, 2026

Donald Trump held separate phone calls with Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin ahead of the G7 summit, it has been confirmed.

Although no formal bilateral has been scheduled between Trump and Zelenskyy, both are due to join a dedicated working session on Ukraine on Tuesday, and officials expect them to meet on the margins.

Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said Trump’s conversation with Putin included a discussion on ending Moscow’s war against Ukraine, though the Russian government framed it as Trump promising "to exert influence" over Europe and Ukraine.

Ushakov also reiterated once again that Putin is not willing to meet Zelenskyy outside Russia.

“If he wants a meeting, let him come to Moscow,” he said.

Hours after this weekend's calls with Trump, Moscow launched 70 missile and over 600 drones against Ukraine, killing at least five people in Kyiv and injuring 29. 

I have just had a great conversation with @POTUS. I congratulated President Trump on his birthday, and we have had quite a detailed discussion about many key things – peace, surely, was among them. I wished President Trump every success, above all in his work to end Russia’s war… pic.twitter.com/VKqPh80olB

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 14, 2026

Warsaw confirmed to Euronews on Monday that it had signed a France-led non-paper calling on the EU to strengthen its trade defence instruments to address Chinese overcapacities.

The non-paper was initially signed by France, Italy, the Netherlands and Lithuania. Madrid also signed it, but later downplayed its support, saying the document was technical rather than political.

The issue of trade imbalances caused by China’s export-driven economy is on the agenda of the G7 summit.

One of the objective of the three-day meeting will be to “bring China into dialogue”, a senior EU official said, “a dialogue that bring results”.

The G7 countries held a video call with Beijing last Thursday.

Tightening the EU’s trade defence tools will also be a key issue on the agenda of EU leaders, who will gather for a summit of their own on Thursday and Friday.

Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is the first leader to arrive at the Group of Seven summit in Évian-les-Bains, eastern France.

Lula arrived wearing a cream fedora and trim suit jacket, smiling to the scrum of international journalists outside the Hôtel Royal before entering the lakeside resort.

Brazil is not a member of the G7 summit, but was invited by French President Emmanuel Macron as part of France’s role as the current G7 presidency holder.

Brazil, alongside India, the Republic of Korea and Kenya, is a partner country.

Washington and Tehran have confirmed they have reached a framework deal to end the war that has been shaking the world's economy with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz's supply routes and the damage to oil and gas infrastructure in the Gulf region.

The exact details of the framework agreement are not yet known, as the deal is meant to be formalised with a signing ceremony in Switzerland on Friday. Meanwhile, ensuring stability in the Middle East and the freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz is expected to take centre stage at the G7 as leaders flock to Évian, France.

Both France and the UK have been working on setting up a military mission to clear mines and ensure freedom of navigation through the critical waterway. The EU's Operation Aspides, deployed in the Red Sea to face the Houthis' threat to international shipping in the area, might be repurposed or expanded for the task.

Trump says US-Iran peace deal ‘complete,’ to be signed on Friday

Tehran has since confirmed that the “text of the memorandum of understanding” has been agreed on and is to be signed in Switzerland, opening the door to 60-day…

French President Emmanuel Macron said upon his arrival in Evian on Sunday evening that the objective of the G7, which is taking place in the French city over three days this week, is to find “common solutions” and ease “global tensions".

"The focus of the discussions will be on fostering new agreements and greater alignment among the G7 countries,” Macron said.

The G7 will begin on Monday evening with a working dinner entitled: “Working together to address major international challenges”.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he is counting on a response from the G7 countries following large-scale Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities overnight on 15 June.

Moscow hit several multi-story residential buildings in Kyiv and the main cathedral of the city's Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, one of Ukraine's most significant religious and cultural sites.

“This is how Russia shows the world its intention to continue the war,” Zelenskyy said on X.

 “It is very important that there be a response from the G7 countries, which are now gathering for their summit – and that this response be decisive and substantive: more pressure on the aggressor and more support for Ukraine’s air defence, especially anti-ballistic capabilities.”

Zelenskyy is set to attend the G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron.

But before departing from Ukraine, he has visited the site of the Russian attack at the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra.

When asked by a journalist what he would say to Vladimir Putin following this attack, Zelenskyy replied: ‘We’ll have our say."

Russian strikes on Kyiv kill at least 11 and leave cathedral in flames

The wave of attacks came as news of a US-Iran deal started to open a path to peace in the Middle East war, highlighting the lack of progress toward an end to o…

As G7 leaders meet in Évian to discuss Ukraine, both Ukraine and Moldova are expected to formally open the first “cluster” of accession talks on joining the European Union later tonight in Luxembourg, ending a two-year stalemate.

In what is a notoriously complex process of aligning with EU rules and standards, candidate countries go through a series of reforms categorised into six thematic "clusters". The first, known as "Fundamentals" covers rule of law, the judiciary and democracy, and is always the first to be opened and last to be closed -- making it pivotal in defining the pace of accession.

Today’s talks come after a two-year political deadlock driven by the former Hungarian government’s firm opposition to opening accession negotiations with Ukraine, citing concerns over the rights and freedoms of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine’s Transcarpathia region. This indirectly held back Moldova, which has been "coupled" in its accession journey with Kyiv's.

The election of Péter Magyar in April and the lifting of the Hungarian veto paved the way for today's talks to take place. Hungary's Foreign Minister Anita Orbán earlier on Monday hailed a "new chapter" for Hungary in Europe yet she cautioned that the "fulfilment and implementation'" of an agreement struck recently between Kyiv and Budapest on the right of the Hungarian minority "is a fundamental condition in the European integration process of Ukraine".

Expectations are also high that both Ukraine and Moldova could kick-start the remaining five "clusters" of negotiations by the summer, with EU enlargement chief Marta Kos saying on Monday that all remaining clusters should be opened by the end of July.

Yet politics could come back to hinder the process. Opening the remaining clusters would mean kick-starting talks on Ukraine's access to the EU's landmark agriculture financing programme, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), a prospect that countries such as Poland and France, are sceptical of.

Both countries filed for EU application in the wake of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and consider European integration key to their future security.

Energy analysts estimate that even in the most optimistic case—where the Strait of Hormuz fully reopens—recovery would still be gradual. This concern will feature at the energy ministers’ meeting on 26 June and will be discussed by G7 leaders alongside other middle powers attending the high-level event in France.

"Even if flows resume in June, upstream production would reach only 80% of pre-war levels after approximately four months, while refining runs would recover to 70% of prewar levels within three months," reads a Council briefing seen by Euronews.

Refining activity in the Gulf States would take months to return to normal after any reopening of the Strait, while product shipments to the EU would require an additional 30 to 40 days in transit. As a result, fuel markets could remain tight throughout the summer, regardless of when maritime traffic resumes.

The prospect of prolonged disruption in the Strait of Hormuz has been driving a broader debate among energy ministers over energy security. With the ceasefire deal between the United States and Iran looming close, European leaders at the G7 may rejoice, despite the unpredictability of past ceasefires.

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Your Euronews correspondent Angela Skujins here reporting from a balmy Évian-les-Bains, where the Group of 7 leaders will soon start streaming in for three crunch-talk days centred on geopolitics, trade and Washington's potential framework deal to end the war in Iran.  

Our first arrival will be President of Brazil Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at 11:30am, before European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa will walk down the red carpet. Later in the day, we are expecting to see UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni roll through.

But the big name on today’s agenda is US President Donald Trump, fresh off his announcement late Sunday evening that a potential framework deal to end the war in Iran may be minted in a few days’ time in Switzerland.

Only time will tell whether tonight’s working dinner, themed, “Working together to address major international challenges”, will bear more fruit and give fresh impetus to the talks.  

In terms of what’s happening right now: ravenous journalists are turning to French pastries for fuel. (This unfortunate vegan reporter asked the catering staff what the meat- and-dairy-free options were, and they pointed to a paltry collection of fruit. “It’s all delicious!” they promised).

Much like the pain au chocolat, the Gendarmerie are also making a large impression. The small French resort town has been transformed into a warren of streets blocked off by police officers strictly controlling who comes in and who comes out. Hopefully this doesn’t mean our leaders will get lost.

Artificial Intelligence will be the centre of a working lunch that G7 leaders will have on Wednesday. Formally, the plan is to discuss themes such as how AI delivers real economic value, how to keep societies secure and resilient, and how to protect the generations who will grow up alongside this technology.

In practice, the US government's recent decision to block non-American citizens from using Anthropic's most powerful models, Fable 5 and Mythos 5, is set to be the elephant in the room. The export control measures were taken on national security grounds, citing the models' capacity to identify and exploit cyber vulnerabilities.

For the EU, the episode is its worst nightmare coming true: Washington has effectively pulled the plug on its most advanced technology, in what might be the latest boost for Brussels' tech sovereignty agenda. On Sunday, European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier warned that such measures "should not be discriminatory against partners."

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US President Donald Trump threatened France on Monday with a tariff war if Paris does not “get rid” of its digital tax on big tech.

“I asked him not to charge American companies, and if they do, I have no choice but to charge a 100% tariff on all champagnes and all wines coming out of France,” Trump told The New York Post. “All [Macron] has to do is get rid of the sales tax, and he wouldn’t have that kind of pressure.”

The threat comes as Europeans are due to vote on Tuesday on a trade deal signed with the Americans last July, capping US tariffs on EU goods at 15 percent while the EU commits to removing its own tariffs on US industrial products.

However, since the agreement was concluded, France has been pushing for an exemption for wines and spirits, one of the EU's top exports to the US.

On Monday, Trump directly targeted the 3 percent duty Paris imposes on revenue generated from digital services in the country by companies earning more than €25 million in France and €750 million globally.

The so-called E4 (Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Italy) have welcomed the ceasefire deal reached by the US and Iran and stressed the importance of restoring "unconditional and unrestricted" navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for gas and oil exports.

"We are committed to playing our part to achieve this — in accordance with our respective constitutional requirements — including through a strictly defensive and independent mission to reassure commercial shipping and conduct mine clearance operations," the four countries said in a joint statement.

The four nations say they are "prepared" to lift sanctions on Iran provided the country takes "clear, verifiable steps" to address its nuclear programme and guarantee its civilian purpose.

Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), welcomed the ceasefire and the peace deal affecting the Strait of Hormuz announced by US President Donald Trump and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday evening.

"This signals a crucial return to peace, dialogue, multilateralism and diplomacy, and in particular, an important step toward restoring safety in this vital maritime corridor for seafarers and ships, as well as safeguarding the fundamental principle of freedom of navigation," reads the IMO statement.

The IMO said it is working in close collaboration with member states and partners to implement this plan safely and effectively. But it notes that its implementation will "require time to ensure that all necessary safety and security guarantees are in place".

Technology and geopolitics will dominate the G7 summit in Évian, where host French President Emmanuel Macron will seek to paper over divisions between the group and the United States.

Our reporters, Maria Tadeo and Angela Skujins, are on the ground and have this preview on what to expect.

Iran, tech and Trump to top Macron's G7 summit

Heads of state from the G7 are bracing themselves for the arrival of US President Donald Trump at the first day of a major summit in Évian-les-Bains, with an a…