Key facts
- Ukraine secured new G7 military and diplomatic backing, including air defence support.
- G7 leaders agreed to increase the delivery of air defence capacities, additional systems and interceptors, and long-range capabilities.
- G7 leaders are ready to consider extending military production licenses to Ukraine.
- President Zelenskyy discussed the potential for domestic production of Patriot anti-ballistic missile interceptors with US President Donald Trump.
- US President Donald Trump stated that 'Russia should make a deal'.
Ukraine has secured significant new pledges of support from world leaders at the G7 summit in France, bolstering its defences and diplomatic leverage against Russia. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Brussels from the summit armed with commitments to strengthen Ukraine’s air defences and intensify pressure on Moscow in an effort to push the Kremlin into direct talks.
Zelenskyy stated on X that the G7 summit delivered important results for Ukraine, most importantly, an agreement on additional strengthening of air defence. He added that partners will ensure support for Ukraine’s defence and energy resilience, and will also impose new sanctions and pressure on Russia.
G7 leaders adopted a joint statement committing to increased deliveries of weapons, including air defence systems and long-range capabilities. For the first time, Ukraine may have an opportunity to produce anti-ballistic interceptor missiles domestically, as G7 leaders said they are 'ready to consider' extending military production licenses to Ukraine. Kyiv aims to build interceptors for Patriot anti-ballistic missile systems within Ukraine. Zelenskyy confirmed he raised this issue with US President Donald Trump at the G7 summit.
The Patriot air defence system is crucial for countering Moscow's ballistic missile threat. However, global Patriot interceptor stockpiles have been depleted due to the US-Israel war with Iran. Gulf states have fired over 1,100 interceptors, while Lockheed Martin produces around 600 annually, with monthly production at best 60-65 missiles. Kyiv claims Russia can produce double that amount monthly, along with other missile types, and has been exploiting Ukraine’s shortage of interceptors in recent attacks.
Since Donald Trump's return to the White House, Zelenskyy has sought to convince the US president that Moscow is the main obstacle to peace. At the G7 meeting, Trump stated that 'Russia should make a deal,' potentially indicating a shift in Washington's approach. Zelenskyy hailed the growing consensus among G7 leaders that Putin is deliberately prolonging the conflict and must be forced to end it.