PARIS - French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday announced that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky would attend the upcoming G7 summit in France, aiming to "rebuild consensus" on support for Ukraine. Additionally, leaders from four Arab states have been invited for discussions on the Middle East conflict.
G7 Summit Details
The summit of the Group of Seven leading economies—comprising Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United States—will be held from June 15-17 at the French lakeside resort of Evian. The invited leaders will participate in sessions on Tuesday.
Ukraine's Participation
Macron emphasized the importance of Zelensky's presence, stating, "It is very important for us because we need to rebuild consensus within the G7 in support of Ukraine on the various aspects of the war" with Russia. This includes the need for "negotiations," a reference to differing opinions between European leaders and US President Donald Trump.
Middle East Discussions
To address the conflict involving the United States and Israel against Iran, which escalated in late February, leaders from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates have been invited to a separate session on Tuesday. The talks will focus on the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has "a real impact on our economies" due to soaring fuel prices, and on "negotiations on Iran," Macron said during a discussion with civil society representatives at the Elysee presidential palace.
North-South Partnership and Global Imbalances
Following a dinner for G7 leaders on Monday and the two sessions on Ukraine and the Middle East, the "North-South partnership" will be on the agenda. Macron noted that partners such as South Korea, India, Kenya, and Brazil would join the session, along with the IMF, World Bank, and African Development Bank.
On Wednesday, the summit will conclude with a session on "global imbalances" and "the issue of growth." This will be preceded on June 11 by a videoconference called "World Convergence Summit for Growth," which will include China and several other emerging countries.
Tech Discussions
The summit will also feature discussions with tech companies from the United States and other countries to address "our agenda of protection and regulation" as well as questions of sovereignty and cybersecurity, Macron added.
