Key facts
- G7 leaders are considering granting Ukraine military production licenses.
- G7 leaders have agreed to increase arms deliveries to Ukraine, including air defense and long-range capabilities.
- The G7 summit reaffirmed unwavering support for Ukraine's defense and sovereignty.
- Ukraine struck a Russian shadow fleet tanker and military logistics facilities.
- Ukrainian and French defense firms will receive $23 million in grants to develop missiles and unmanned systems.
Group of Seven (G7) leaders are "ready to consider" granting Ukraine military production licenses and have agreed to increase arms deliveries, according to a joint statement released on June 17. The leaders, meeting in Évian-les-Bains, France, reaffirmed their "unwavering support for Ukraine in defending its freedom, sovereignty, and territorial integrity."
The statement emphasized a "new momentum" on the battlefield and pledged to accelerate this by increasing air defense capacities, additional systems, interceptors, and long-range capabilities. The possibility of extending licenses for Ukraine's military production was also discussed, with the U.S. indicating it would review the matter.
In parallel, Ukrainian and French defense companies will receive $23 million in grants under the new Brave France initiative to develop missiles, unmanned systems, and counter-air technologies. This initiative aims to scale up weapons production through partnerships with European allies.
Ukraine also reported striking a sanctioned tanker belonging to Russia's "shadow fleet" in the Black Sea, as well as multiple military logistics facilities and command posts. The Fina A tanker is used to export oil while circumventing international sanctions. Ukraine's Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov suggested that increasing drone strikes could lead to the effective isolation of occupied Crimea.
Ukraine's General Staff denied Russian claims that a Ukrainian drone struck a bus carrying Belarusian children, calling it an "information provocation."