US-Iran Truce on the Brink as Both Sides Return to Doha Talks
G7 leaders wrapped their three-day summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, on Tuesday with a unified declaration backing Ukraine but facing renewed strain over Iran, as President Volodymyr Zelensky joined the gathering and the United States signaled it would pursue a separate bilateral channel with Russia on ending the war.
The joint statement, endorsed by all seven leaders, affirmed “unwavering support for Ukraine in defending its freedom, sovereignty, and territorial integrity,” and committed the bloc to increased military assistance. But the affichée unity masked deeper divisions that surfaced the moment the cameras left the room.
Zelensky Joins G7 as Fragile Ceasefire Talks Advance
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky flew to the French lakeside resort for a 75-minute working session with the leaders of France, Britain, Germany, Canada, Italy, Japan, and the United States. It was his first appearance at the grouping since the suspended ceasefire negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow collapsed in April.
The session came as American and Russian officials held parallel talks in Geneva aimed at establishing preliminary terms for a ceasefire. President Donald Trump told reporters at the summit that the Ukraine war had “nothing to do” with the United States, a remark that reverberated through European capitals. European leaders quickly moved to reinforce their commitment to Ukraine’s territorial integrity, drafting language that kept the joint declaration unambiguous.
“We, the Leaders of the G7, stand united in our unwavering support for Ukraine,” the declaration stated, according to a copy reviewed by Reuters. “We reaffirm our commitment to a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace based on the principles of international law.”
Iran Deal Signals Detente But Rattles Regional Partners
Beyond Ukraine, the summit was shaped by the announcement of a preliminary US-Iran agreement on the nuclear file, reached just days before the leaders convened. The deal, brokered through Omani and Swiss intermediaries, would suspend Iran’s enrichment activities in exchange for partial sanctions relief — a development that alarmed Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the Gulf states.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office issued a sharp condemnation, calling the agreement “a historic strategic mistake” that would embolden Tehran. Saudi Arabia signaled concern through diplomatic channels, while Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates called for immediate briefings from Washington.
The G7 declaration addressed Iran only obliquely, expressing concern over the “regional implications” of the nuclear standoff without endorsing the American approach directly. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, attending in place of the President for certain sessions, held separate bilateral meetings with Gulf counterparts to manage the fallout.
French President Emmanuel Macron, who hosted the summit, struck a more cautious tone. “We have always advocated for a diplomatic solution to the Iran nuclear question,” Macron told reporters. “A deal that addresses the concerns of all parties is the only durable path.”
Trade Tensions Surface Amid Broader Geopolitical Agenda
Alongside security questions, the summit exposed fault lines on trade and economic policy. The United States pressed for accelerated talks on bilateral investment frameworks, while European leaders pushed back against what they described as discriminatory industrial subsidy practices — a reference to Washington’s ongoing tariffs on steel and aluminum.
The joint declaration included a chapter on “economic resilience” that called for diversifying supply chains and reducing strategic dependencies, language that analysts said was calibrated to address concerns about Chinese dominance in critical minerals and semiconductor manufacturing.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told journalists that the bloc needed to present a more cohesive economic front. “The era of relying on single suppliers for critical technologies is over,” Merz said. “We are building a new architecture for industrial security.”
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, making his debut G7 appearance, focused on Indo-Pacific stability, raising concerns about Chinese maritime activity in the South and East China Seas. The summit declaration included language opposing “any unilateral attempts to change the status quo, in particular by force or coercion.”
What Comes Next
The summit’s closing declaration laid out a calendar for follow-on negotiations. G7 finance ministers will convene in July to discuss implementation of the Ukraine support framework. A proposed peace conference, modeled on earlier Swiss formats, is being planned for the autumn, though Russia has not yet confirmed participation.
American and Russian negotiators are expected to continue their Geneva channel through the summer. The outcome of those talks — and whether a final ceasefire agreement can be reached before the November diplomatic window closes — will determine whether the G7’s display of unity translates into durable progress.
European officials said they would watch the American approach closely. “The declarations are important, but what matters is what happens in the room when no one is watching,” one senior EU diplomat told reporters, speaking on background.
