Leaders of the G7, including President Donald Trump, pledged to increase military support for Ukraine and strengthen sanctions targeting Russia’s energy sector in a joint declaration signed Wednesday during the three-day summit in Evian-les-Bains. The leaders commended Ukraine for its resilience and progress on the battlefield, noting a new momentum that they intend to support through increased military capabilities and sanctions against the Russian war economy.

Support for Ukraine

To accelerate the new momentum in Ukraine, the G7 agreed to increase the delivery of air defence capacities, additional systems, interceptors, and long-range capabilities. The leaders expressed readiness to consider extending licenses to Ukraine to allow for an increase in its military production. They also committed to providing further support to help the country through the next winter, emphasizing the importance of energy resilience based on needs expressed by Ukrainian authorities.

Sanctions on Russia

The G7 committed to increasing pressure on the Russian war economy by strengthening sanctions on the oil and gas sectors. The leaders identified this as the right moment to proceed with additional measures, citing a deal delivered by President Trump to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. A U.K.-France-led international mission will protect shipping lanes through the strait. The U.K. has already deployed HMS Dragon, a Type-45 guided-missile destroyer, to the Middle East for naval escorts.

Middle East developments

The leaders welcomed the announcement of a deal between the United States and Iran, secured under the leadership of President Trump with support from mediating countries. This deal is viewed as a historic opportunity to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and to address threats related to its regional and ballistic activities. The G7 reaffirmed that the right of transit passage without restrictions or tolls is fundamental to international trade.

In Lebanon, the G7 supports an immediate robust ceasefire to assist the leadership in achieving the disarmament of Hezbollah and ensuring the monopoly of arms. In Gaza, the leaders committed to accelerating humanitarian and reconstruction efforts and the swift implementation of relevant political and security measures, while calling for an end to violence in the West Bank.

Indo-Pacific and global economy

The leaders highlighted the importance of a free and open Indo-Pacific based on the rule of law. They reaffirmed opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion in the East and South China Seas and across the Taiwan Strait. The G7 expressed deep concern about North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs, reaffirming a commitment to complete denuclearization. They also welcomed the Global Convergence for Growth Summit convened by President Macron on June 11, 2026, with the participation of China, to address global imbalances.

G7 leaders have reaffirmed their commitment to preventing and countering the smuggling of migrants, aiming to dismantle organized criminal networks that profit from these activities. The declaration, adopted in Évian, France, on June 17, 2026, underscores the group's determination to disrupt the business models of enterprises involved in migrant smuggling, human trafficking, and related crimes. Partner countries Kenya and the Republic of Korea also endorsed the declaration.

The leaders acknowledged that migrant smuggling and human trafficking are serious transnational crimes that undermine states' sovereign rights to control their borders. They emphasized the need to tackle organized illegal migration while protecting vulnerable groups, including refugees and forcibly displaced persons. The G7 Action Plan to Prevent and Counter the Smuggling of Migrants will continue to guide these efforts.

Key Measures

The declaration outlines several strategic actions to combat migrant smuggling:

• Targeted Sanctions: Adoption of sanctions and restrictive measures against individuals and entities involved in migrant smuggling, including online operations, where legally consistent.
• Online Cooperation: Intensified collaboration with online platforms to detect, prevent, and remove content used for smuggling operations.
• Origin and Transit Countries: Strengthened cooperation with countries of origin and transit to dismantle smuggling networks and prevent organized illegal migration.
• Economic Stability: Efforts to build stability and improve economic conditions in origin countries to enable individuals to thrive locally.

Return and Migration Management

The G7 leaders emphasized the obligation of states to accept the return of their nationals. They called for enhanced processes to ensure the timely, safe, lawful, and dignified return of individuals without legal right to stay in G7 territories. The declaration also noted new lawful approaches explored by some members with third countries to strengthen migration management, respecting national competences.

The outcome reflects productive exchanges between G7 members and partner countries, reinforcing a collective approach to addressing the challenges of migrant smuggling and human trafficking.