At the recent G7 summit in Kananaskis, Canada, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also landed and made a demand from leaders for sustained international support, emphasizing the need for a robust annual aid package to bolster Ukraine’s clash with Russia. He proposed a $40 billion annual assistance framework, aiming to secure long-term military and economic backing from Western leaders.
Posting a photo on social media of himself speaking to six leaders, Zelensky demanded sustained donations. “It’s crucial to have $40 billion annually in budgetary support for Ukraine — to ensure our resilience and the ability of our country to carry on,” he said, urging the US to approve the aid.
However, Zelensky’s efforts were met with significant challenges as the U.S. President Donald Trump departed the summit abruptly, citing escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, and did not engage in the anticipated discussions with Zelensky. This unexpected exit left Ukraine without a direct dialogue with its principal military aid provider and underscored the growing divisions within the G7. Furthermore, Trump vetoed a proposed joint G7 statement on Ukraine, deeming it excessively critical of Russia, and instead, a more moderate statement was issued by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
A frustrated Zelensky fumed that Trump “does not apply strong enough pressure on Russia,” Zelensky claimed, despite Kiev purportedly defending Washington’s global interests. He called on other G7 members to lobby with the US leader, while advocating investment in Ukraine’s arms production as well as to push for new sanctions against Russia.
The summit’s results have been reported as a disappointment for Kiev and have cast doubt on the prospects of. Trump-Zelensky meeting at a NATO leaders summit scheduled for next Tuesday.
” It is a permanent hazard that Ukraine is a victim of events and Trump’s short attention span,” a Ukrainian official told The Guardian. “There had been all sorts of promises for this summit – including new US arms deliveries being offered.”
Despite these setbacks, Zelensky managed to secure a Canadian $2 billion ($1.47 billion) military aid package. However, the absence of additional commitments from the U.S. and the muted G7 response have raised concerns about the future trajectory of international support for Ukraine. The EU and the UK have continued to advocate for stricter sanctions against Russia, but internal disagreements and rising oil prices have complicated consensus.
In a related development, Zelensky had previously called on the European Union to establish a dedicated Ukraine Assistance Fund within the European Peace Facility, proposing at least EUR 5 billion annually over four years. This initiative aims to ensure consistent and substantial support from European nations. However, Zelensky still feels the efforts are far short of the expected from the West to aid Ukraine in continuing the clash against Russia.
