Europeans leave G7 feeling relieved, balancing self-interest and flattery to keep Trump in check

On stage, the French president was beaming.

As the G7 summit drew to a close on Wednesday after three days of high-stakes diplomacy, Emmanuel Macron hailed what he called an "objectively successful" gathering, pointing to a joint declaration endorsed by all leaders — including US President Donald Trump.

In the weeks leading up to the gathering, there had been widespread speculation that President Trump might skip the summit altogether or leave early.

French diplomats also worried about potential clashes, diplomatic missteps and a lack of unity that could have rendered the G7 format useless on the global stage.

A year earlier in Canada, Trump had departed the summit early as war broke out between Israel and Iran. The Canadian G7 had also failed to produce a joint position on key issues, while US tariffs against allies deepened uncertainty and left EU partners rattled.

This time, French diplomats highlighted a summit that delivered the outcome they had hoped for. President Macron went a step further, telling reporters at a press conference after the summit that the Évian gathering marked a turning point.

"This is a real change compared with the last few months, not just on the part of the Europeans, but on the part of G7 members," he told journalists.

In the early hours of Wednesday, leaders agreed a joint declaration in which they said they "stood united in our unwavering support for Ukraine in defending its freedom, sovereignty and territorial integrity."

The G7 statement also pledged tougher sanctions on Russian energy, addressing a central demand from European and Ukrainian officials seeking to increase pressure on Vladimir Putin. Sources told Euronews the move represented a "real moment of convergence" between the US administration and the Europeans.

"This Évian summit represents a very profound shift in approach, a willingness on the part of the United States to work with the Europeans in support of Ukraine," Macron said at the press conference following the summit.

Charm offensive in pursuit of Europe's interests

For Europeans, who had feared being sidelined in talks over the future of peace on the continent as Trump pursued direct engagement with Putin, their place at the table now appears firmly secured.

The momentum from the G7 also vindicates their dual-track strategy: maintaining close engagement with Washington while expanding their own diplomatic, military and financial support for Ukraine.

Macron echoed that sentiment, saying Europeans had reorganised themselves after the US initiated negotiations with Putin, extending a "hand" to Moscow, only to reach the same conclusion: that Russia was not showing a serious willingness to pursue peace, and that Ukraine is holding up far better than "some had thought" it would.

European sources told Euronews that the message had resonated with Trump, who indicated the US could reimpose sanctions on Russian energy, although he offered no clear timeline.

While Europeans also welcomed a productive working session on Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy failed to secure a bilateral meeting with Trump, holding only a brief conversation on the sidelines of a group discussion.

As efforts to establish peace talks intensify, a separate EU official told Euronews that Council President António Costa, who represents the 27 member states, has quietly tested diplomatic channels to assess whether a line of communication with the Kremlin could be established. Kyiv has urged Europeans to be more active in negotiations.

The official said, however, that "nothing was discussed on substance" and stressed that the EU does not see itself as a mediator, but as a supporter of Ukraine. The issue is expected to be discussed at a European leaders' summit on Thursday, with President Zelenskyy attending.

As leaders began to depart the Hotel Royal, where they had spent hours in meetings, Europeans appeared to have found a formula that works — at least for now, and at least in Évian: engagement, diplomacy and strategic outreach in pursuit of their own interests.

While the Europeans pushed for Ukraine, they also welcomed Trump's deal with Iran to end the war, even as serious questions remain over Tehran's nuclear programme. European officials acknowledge the agreement is not without risks.

Still, there was a sense among allies that the outcome provided an off-ramp from even worse scenarios: a deal that could ease pressure on energy markets, refocus attention on Ukraine and help restrain Israeli military actions that some Europeans have criticised as excessive in neighbouring countries such as Lebanon.

"Their positions on this have moved closer," one diplomat said.

As for Trump, the US president then departed for Versailles, the palace once home to Louis XIV, the Sun King, for a dinner celebrating 250 years of French-American friendship.

Asked whether the lavish banquet risked going too far to accommodate Trump's wishes, Macron said the palace had always been — and remained — a tool of diplomacy.