Leaders from Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States gathered in Évian-les-Bains, France, for discussions on Ukraine, the Middle East and global issues. The meeting began with the Russia-Ukraine conflict as the main topic. Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy joined the session. Before the talks started, he reported that Ukrainian forces had struck a Moscow oil refinery overnight in response to recent attacks on Kyiv and called for Russia to be compelled to end the war. Concerns remain that US president Donald Trump might pursue separate talks with Russia without European involvement. The agenda also covers the Middle East and relations with emerging economies. Additional bilateral meetings and a formal dinner are scheduled for later. Brief delays occurred at the start as participants waited for some leaders to arrive, creating moments of informal conversation among those present.
