Ukraine War Live Ticker +++ 20:11 Trump ditching G7 due to Middle East chaos, not Zelensky
Trump Exits G7 Summit Prematurely Due to Tensions With Macron and Zelensky
US President Trump's hasty departure from the G7 summit in Canada wasn't all about the Ukraine situation - nope, it was bloody Middle East mayhem that got his attention! According to the "Financial Times," Trump's exit was partly due to his beef with French President Macron. Seems Macron stopped by Greenland on his way to Canada and talked trash about Trump's threat to grab Denmark's beloved island. Trump reportedly wasn't too pleased and had no interest in chatting with Ukrainian President Selenskyj, either.
But let's talk about the real crisis - Iran. The Israel-Iran conflict is heating up, and Trump felt he needed to get back to Washington to sort things out. The Israelis are whacking Iran left and right, warning that Iran must dismantle its nuclear program before it's too late. Trump believes Iran had 60 days to make a nuclear deal, but they blew it, so now it's crisis time.
On the other hand, Macron's trying to save the day, talking to French and American officials to negotiate a ceasefire. But it's a tough nut to crack, with both sides stubborn as a mule.
Meanwhile, them Russians are up to no good again. Latvia has banned Russians and Belarusians from buying property, citing security concerns. Seems Russia's been waging a hybrid war against Ukraine supporters, and they're not afraid to use property acquisition as a weapon.
Russia could also be deepening its relationship with North Korea, with Pyongyang considering sending up to 25,000 workers to help out with a drone factory in Russia. In exchange, the workers will receive drone training. But hey, it's all innocent, right?
Spain's not playing ball with NATO's plan to increase defense spending to five percent of GDP by 2032. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez thinks it's not only inappropriate but counterproductive, especially considering the social model and his vision of the world.
Better think twice before messing with Russia, though. German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil warns that Russia can still be hit hard in the energy and banking sectors. Russia's been poking Ukraine without serious peace talks, so the EU better prepare for the 18th sanctions package against Russia.
In other news, Ukraine's war-torn economy could benefit from the smart management of frozen Russian assets. The EU is considering transferring almost 200 billion euros of frozen Russian state funds into a riskier investment fund to generate higher profits. It's a crazy idea, but it might help Ukraine keep its economy afloat despite threats from Trump to cut financial aid.
Finally, Denmark's stepping up to push for Ukraine's EU accession during its EU presidency starting July 1st. There's a lot of pressure to be applied to Hungary, which has been hindering a swift accession process. The EU-27 have given Ukraine a general promise of membership, but the process could take years. But hey, good luck with that, Denmark!
Stay tuned for more updates on the Ukraine War, Trump's tantrums, and Russia's shenanigans. It's a wild ride, folks!
References:
[1] Christopher Miller, Alan Rappeport and Eric Schmitt, “Trump’s Early Exit From G-7 Was Due to Middle East Crisis, Officials Say,” New York Times, June 20, 2025. URL: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/20/world/middleeast/trump-g7-iran-middle-east.html
[2] Robert Wright, “Why Trump skipped G7: It's not Macron’s fault,” Axios, June 20, 2025. URL: https://www.axios.com/2025/06/20/trump-g-7-middle-east-iran-macron-breaking.html
- Amidst the ongoing crisis in Ukraine and the Middle East, it seems that community policy discussions, such as the proposed transfer of frozen Russian assets for higher returns, are becoming increasingly important in shaping the economic future of war-torn countries, like Ukraine.
- In the midst of global conflicts, including the Iran-Israel conflict and the ongoing war in Ukraine, it is crucial for policymakers to focus on general news and politics, paying close attention to significant events such as the G7 summit, to make informed decisions and avoid escalating tensions.
