G7 leaders meet for first full day of talks with Russia-Ukraine war first on the agenda – Europe live

Leaders of Canada, European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States are meeting in Évian-les-Bains in France for talks on Ukraine, the Middle East, and (waves arms) the world on fire.After last night’s arrivals, it’s time to sit down and talk issues this morning, beginning with Ukraine.The leaders will be joined by Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as they try to keep US president, Donald Trump, on side amid fears he could be tempted to once again engage with Russia circumventing Europe.Just as the leaders are about to sit down for their talks, Zelenskyy said that Ukrainian forces struck a Moscow oil refinery last night in a “response” to recent attacks on Kyiv.“Russia must be forced to end the war against our people,” he said.The leaders will also talk about the Middle East …… and their relations with rapidly growing economies elsewhere before taking part in a number of bilateral meetings and a formal dinner later tonight.I will bring you all the key lines here.It’s Tuesday, 16 June 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.Good morning.There appears to be some sort of confusion with an official briefing the leaders on the growing delay and thanking them for their patience.“We’re optimistic he will come,” Meloni says, looking around, apparently telling EU’s Costa that someone is speaking with Zelenskyy.Given that we are missing Macron, Trump and Zelenskyy, it doesn’t take a particularly wild guess to figure out what might be happening behind the scenes.So what we now have is the leaders of Canada, EU, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK waiting for Trump, Macron and Zelenskyy.It sounded as if someone, possibly Meloni, was telling some sort of story that involved the White House, but it’s impossible to make out what it was.We are now getting live pictures of the leaders arriving (slightly late) for today’s talks, with France’s Emmanuel Macron deep in conversation with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy.The French president is walking casually, hand in pocket, while Zelenskyy appears to be explaining something.Some last minute chat on tactics before they meet with Trump, surely?The other group of leaders – including Germany’s Friedrich Merz, Britain’s Keir Starmer, Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, Japan’s Sanae Takaichi, and EU’s Ursula von der Leyen – are standing in a circle waiting for others to arrive.About the only words I can make from their chat is “ChatGPT,” and Meloni mentioning cigarettes, so make of that what you will. More as we get it, I guess.Leaders of Canada, European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States are meeting in Évian-les-Bains in France for talks on Ukraine, the Middle East, and (waves arms) the world on fire.After last night’s arrivals, it’s time to sit down and talk issues this morning, beginning with Ukraine.The leaders will be joined by Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as they try to keep US president, Donald Trump, on side amid fears he could be tempted to once again engage with Russia circumventing Europe.Just as the leaders are about to sit down for their talks, Zelenskyy said that Ukrainian forces struck a Moscow oil refinery last night in a “response” to recent attacks on Kyiv.“Russia must be forced to end the war against our people,” he said.The leaders will also talk about the Middle East …… and their relations with rapidly growing economies elsewhere before taking part in a number of bilateral meetings and a formal dinner later tonight.I will bring you all the key lines here.It’s Tuesday, 16 June 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.Good morning.