▲ French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a press conference following the conclusion of the G7 summit on June 17 (local time).
French President Emmanuel Macron, whose country holds the presidency of this year's Group of Seven (G7) summit, assessed on June 17 (local time) that the summit was "objectively successful," citing "unity among the G7, high-level discussions, and genuine cooperation."
During a press conference concluding the three-day G7 summit held in Évian, France, President Macron made these remarks, specifically highlighting the consensus reached among member states regarding support for Ukraine and sanctions against Russia.
He stated, "All G7 member states not only agreed on the necessity of supporting Ukraine's territorial integrity but also shared the view that the balance of power has fundamentally shifted over the past few months," adding, "We have committed to increasing the level of pressure, including strengthening sanctions (against Russia)."
President Macron emphasized, "This is the first time such a consensus has been reached within the G7. There have been disagreements and differences within the G7 in the past," adding, "Therefore, this is a genuine step forward."
President Macron particularly noted that U.S. President Donald Trump, who had previously faced criticism for being biased toward the Russian position, "acknowledged, just as we did, that Russia currently has no serious intention for peace negotiations." He mentioned that President Trump also "very clearly" expressed the need to take a "much tougher stance" against Russia.
He welcomed this development, saying, "This is a real change," and added, "It demonstrates the U.S. willingness to cooperate with European countries to support Ukraine, as well as a shared determination to move forward together to resolve this issue."
Regarding the situation in the Middle East, President Macron said, "We unanimously welcomed the excellent agreement concluded between the U.S. and Iran, which was brokered by President Trump."
He further emphasized the importance of the "right to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without tolls" and stated that, along with the United Kingdom, they are "prepared to play a significant role in facilitating the resumption of maritime traffic through the strait."
However, President Macron qualified this by saying, "This is merely a proposal," and noted that "everything depends on an agreement between Iran and the U.S., as well as the consent of Oman, which lies across the strait."
President Macron concluded by assessing, "This summit was held amidst an extremely difficult global situation characterized by divisions and multiple crises, and the past few months have been marked by discord, conflict, and disagreement. However, through this G7 summit, we have overcome these challenges."
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.