Zelenskyy says G7 leaders pledge more vital help for Ukraine against Russia

By — Hanna Arhirova, Associated Press Hanna Arhirova, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/zelenskyy-says-g7-leaders-pledge-more-vital-help-for-ukraine-against-russia Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Zelenskyy says G7 leaders pledge more vital help for Ukraine against Russia World Jun 17, 2026 4:03 PM EDT KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Wednesday his country has won key pledges of further support from world leaders in defending itself from Russia's full-scale invasion, now in its fifth year. Leaders attending the Group of Seven summit in France promised to strengthen Ukraine's air defenses and ensure its energy supply, as well as step up international economic pressure on Moscow. READ MORE: Trump signals he may reimpose sanctions on Russian oil as G7 refocuses on Ukraine "The G7 Summit in France delivered important results for Ukraine. Most importantly, we agreed on additional strengthening of Ukraine's air defense," Zelenskyy, who attended the gathering, said on X. "Our partners will ensure support for our defense and energy resilience," he said, adding they will also introduce new sanctions on Russia. French President Emmanuel Macron said the summit at the lakeside resort of Evian-les-Bains produced "unprecedented convergence" among G7 leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump, on maintaining support for Ukraine. Trump and Zelenskyy have had a sometimes strained relationship. Zelenskyy has spent a lot of time since the war began in 2022 trying to secure international support and isolate Russian President Vladimir Putin diplomatically. READ MORE: Putin rejects Zelenskyy's offer to meet, saying he sees 'no point' in it Zelenskyy was expected at a European Union summit in Brussels on Thursday. Ukraine on Monday officially started its EU membership negotiations, launching a process that could take years even as it fights Russia. The Iran war has distracted Washington from its largely fruitless effort to end the fighting in Ukraine, and Zelenskyy sought to engage with Trump at the G7 gathering where key European leaders were also present. Putin has tried to cut out Europe and Kyiv and negotiate Ukraine's future directly with Washington. G7 leaders praise Ukraine's battlefield progress The leaders of Japan, the U.K., France, Germany, Italy, Canada and the U.S. threw their support behind Ukraine in a joint statement published overnight. "We commend Ukraine for its resilience and progress on the battlefield in recent months and emphasize there is now a new momentum" in Kyiv's resistance, it said. Ukraine's performance against Russia's bigger army has improved markedly in recent months, Western officials and analysts say. High-tech Ukrainian drones are pinning down Russian troops on the front line, choking Russian supply lines in occupied regions of Ukraine and disrupting oil production deep inside Russia that provi