The G7 leaders meeting in France pledged to strengthen Ukraine's air defenses, bolster its energy resilience and impose additional sanctions on Russia, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. The communique praised Kyiv's recent battlefield gains and signaled new momentum in its resistance. Leaders also agreed to consider licensing Ukraine to manufacture Western weapons, while Kyiv still faces shortages of Patriot missiles. Separate reports said a Russian strike hit a children's equestrian school in Sumy and Moscow claimed it downed 157 Ukrainian drones.
G7 Pledges Strengthened Air Defenses, Energy Support and New Sanctions for Ukraine, Zelenskyy Says
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attends the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Ukraine secured fresh commitments from leaders at the Group of Seven summit in France, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Wednesday, as Kyiv continues to resist Russia's full-scale invasion into its fifth year.
What the G7 Agreed
According to Zelenskyy, the world's leading industrial democracies pledged to strengthen Ukraine's air defenses, bolster energy resilience and step up economic pressure on Moscow through additional sanctions. Zelenskyy, who attended the summit, announced the outcomes on X.
"The G7 Summit in France delivered important results for Ukraine. Most importantly, we agreed on additional strengthening of Ukraine's air defense," Zelenskyy wrote, adding that partners will also support Ukraine's defense and energy systems and introduce further sanctions on Russia.
Diplomatic Context
Since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, Zelenskyy has devoted sustained diplomatic effort to securing international backing and increasing the isolation of President Vladimir Putin. Ukraine formally opened EU membership negotiations on Monday — a process that could take years even as the war continues — and Zelenskyy was expected to travel to Brussels for a European Union summit.
The summit also saw diplomatic jockeying: Zelenskyy sought engagement with U.S. President Donald Trump at the G7 gathering, while Moscow has attempted to bypass European partners and take Ukraine-related talks directly to Washington.
In this photo provided by the Zaporizhzhia Regional Administration on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, a building burns after a Russian strike in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine. (Zaporizhzhia Regional Administration via AP)(Zaporizhzhia Regional Administration via AP)
Military Aid, Licensing And Shortages
The G7 communique pledged additional air defense capabilities but did not specify weapon types. Leaders said they would consider granting licenses that would allow Ukraine to manufacture Western weapons; Kyiv has asked for permission to produce Patriot missiles domestically.
Analysts note Ukraine still faces shortages of American-made Patriot missiles, in part because U.S. stockpiles have been strained by conflicts in the Middle East. That shortfall leaves Kyiv more vulnerable to the ballistic missiles Russia uses in its strategic bombing campaign.
On The Battlefield
Western officials and analysts say Ukraine's battlefield performance has improved in recent months. High-tech Ukrainian drones have helped pin down Russian troops, disrupt supply lines in occupied areas and target oil production deep inside Russia — damaging revenue streams and increasing domestic visibility of the war.
Recent Violence
In separate incidents reported Wednesday, a Russian strike hit an equestrian sports school for children in the Sumy region in northeastern Ukraine, damaging a stable and killing horses; staff were reported uninjured, according to regional official Oleh Hryhorov. Meanwhile, Russia's Defense Ministry said its air defenses shot down 157 Ukrainian drones between late Tuesday and early Wednesday.
AP reporters Illia Novikov in Kyiv and Barry Hatton in Lisbon contributed to this report.
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