G7 minus Trump rallies behind Kyiv as US blocks statement

KANANASKIS, June 18 (AFP): Group of Seven leaders minus President Donald Trump on Tuesday vowed greater support for Ukraine, as the United States blocked a joint call to pressure Russia, which is ramping up attacks on its neighbor.

The US president had been due to meet at the G7 summit with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, with whom he has had a volatile relationship, but flew back Monday over the Israel-Iran conflict.

Zelensky met the remaining leaders at a remote lodge in the Canadian Rockies hours after Russia hit Kyiv with one of the worst bombardments since it invaded in February 2022, killing at least 10 people in the capital.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney welcomed Zelensky and announced Can$2 billion ($1.47bn) of military support, including drones and helicopters, for Ukraine.

But the Group of Seven summit was unable to issue a joint statement on Ukraine as "the Americans wanted to water it down," a Canadian official said on condition of anonymity.

The United States objected to some language, saying it wanted to preserve its role as a mediator with President Vladimir Putin, the official said.

Carney dismissed suggestions of friction, saying that all G7 leaders agreed to be "resolute in exploring all options to maximize pressure on Russia, including financial sanctions."

But he admitted that some G7 leaders "would say above and beyond" what was in the chair's summary that he issued to wrap up the talks in place of a formal statement signed by all leaders.

G7 leaders, however, managed unity Monday on a joint statement on the Iran conflict that backed Israel but also called broadly for de-escalation, despite Trump contemplating greater US military involvement.