Trump leaves the G7 summit: tension and differences remain!

Trump leaves the G7 summit: tension and differences remain!

What a bang it was at the G7 summit in Kananaskis! US President Donald Trump packed his bags early and left the summit after dinner with his counterparts. The reason for the sudden departure appears to be deep differences over Ukraine policy and current “events in the Middle East,” as Trump spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt put it. The rumors about Trump's departure were already swirling around the summit site, and now it has been confirmed.

Trump's statements about excluding Russia from the G8, which he describes as a “big mistake,” are particularly explosive. Europe's participants saw these words as a provocation, as Putin was expelled from the club of economically strongest nations in 2014 because of the annexation of Crimea. Trump firmly believes that there would be no war if Russia remained part of the G8. As RP Online reports, European states are now urging Trump to consider tougher sanctions against Russia. But how does Trump see it? According to a report by n-tv he is holding back on new sanctions and is calling on the EU to adopt its sanctions package first.

The consequences of Trump's departure

With Trump's departure, the G7 will quickly become a G6 at the summit - the lack of agreement on important issues such as the trade and customs dispute and dealing with Russia is now becoming even clearer. However, Trump maintained a constructive exchange with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, which lasted at least 20 minutes. The escalation between Israel and Iran as well as the Iranian nuclear program were at the forefront of the talks. There seemed to be an agreement here that we wanted to look for solutions together.

Meanwhile, the situation in Ukraine remains tense. President Volodymyr Zelensky not only sought support from the G7, but also came up with a proposal that Austria could act as an intermediary in the return of missing Ukrainian children. Zelensky's desperate calls for more pressure on Russia and additional sanctions, especially in the energy sector, should be understood in this context. However, his trust among the population appears to be dwindling, as a survey shows, according to which his popularity rating has fallen by 11 percent.

The view of Ukraine

In this tense situation, Bazonline reports that Ukraine recently received commitments for additional arms aid from several countries during a summit in Odessa. It is particularly important to Zelensky that support for his own defense continues in the face of ongoing Russian aggressiveness. If you describe Russia's geopolitical ambitions, one thing becomes clear: Kremlin boss Putin is striving for more influence and control over the region.

In this increasingly confusing political climate, it will remain to be seen how relations between the countries develop - especially with regard to the sensitive issues of war, peace and support for Ukraine. The escalation continues and diplomatic negotiations are in jeopardy. Trump has announced that he will attend the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague, but whether this will contribute to a solution remains to be seen.