G7 Backs Ukraine in Long-Term Defense Shift

June 23rd, 2025

Sharikkaa Shanker

In the rugged foothills of Alberta, the world’s most powerful democracies convened this week for a pivotal G7 Summit marked by unity, urgency, and a clear message to Moscow: Western support for Ukraine is not waning—it’s evolving. Spanning June 16–17, the summit brought together U.S. President Donald Trump, newly elected UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and leaders from the EU, Japan, and Canada. At the top of the agenda: securing Ukraine’s defense in the face of continued Russian aggression and reshaping the global security order in response.

While previous G7 gatherings emphasized short-term military aid, this year’s summit revealed a more strategic shift: transitioning from reactive support to long-term military-industrial partnership. British Prime Minister Starmer, hosting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier this month in London, announced a sweeping defense cooperation deal. The agreement includes joint arms production, logistical integration, and the establishment of UK-backed manufacturing sites in Western Ukraine—a move seen as a hedge against reliance on foreign weapons pipelines. “This is not just about winning the war—it’s about ensuring Ukraine can defend its peace,” Starmer said in Alberta. “Our commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty is now baked into our economic, industrial, and defense infrastructure.”

Beyond the battlefield, the G7 also tackled another pressing issue: Arctic security. Canada and the United States led discussions on increased Russian military presence in the Arctic Circle and China's growing interest in the region. A communiqué released at the summit’s close outlined a new "Northern Security Initiative" to enhance NATO-aligned surveillance and infrastructure from Scandinavia to Alaska. Analysts say this marks the West’s clearest pivot toward Arctic deterrence in over a decade. “This isn’t just about geography,” said Canadian Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland. “It’s about defending democratic norms in every region where authoritarian influence is expanding.”

While the summit projected a largely united front, there were subtle tensions. President Trump was reluctant to endorse multilateral military spending benchmarks, and his team downplayed discussions of climate cooperation, a sharp contrast to the positions of EU leaders like French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Annalena Baerbock. Still, on Ukraine, there was notable alignment. The G7 agreed to extend $75 billion in combined military and reconstruction aid through 2027, with provisions for civilian infrastructure, mine-clearing operations, and cyber defense.

President Zelenskyy’s presence loomed large throughout the summit. In both public speeches and closed-door sessions, he emphasized the importance of building Ukraine’s self-reliance through long-term partnerships—not just emergency shipments. “We do not want to be a nation that waits,” Zelenskyy told reporters. “We want to be a nation that builds.” His address was met with multiple standing ovations, signaling that the G7’s commitment is not just symbolic but increasingly systemic.

As the summit closed, one thing was clear: Ukraine’s war has become the G7’s defining cause—and its outcome may determine the shape of global governance for years to come. In the words of EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, “Ukraine is not only fighting for its own survival. It is fighting for the rules-based international order. That makes it our fight too.”