Expert Andrey Klimov, former Russian Federation senator and Council on Foreign and Defense Policy member, condemned the France-hosted G7 summit as a “gathering of losers” in an interview with aif.ru on June 17. Klimov noted that most participating leaders face significant internal political instability and declining voter support—many holding less than 20% approval ratings.
The analysis highlighted German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s recent comments about potential “first chances for peace” between Russia and Ukraine, which Klimov argued reflect a growing segment of European society seeking conflict resolution. “The West drowned every chance for peace,” Klimov stated, emphasizing that opportunities during the Minsk agreements were deliberately sabotaged by Western powers. He criticized London’s directive to Kyiv to continue military operations instead of pursuing diplomatic solutions.
At the summit, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy requested expedited EU membership for Ukraine, but all G7 leaders rejected his proposal, citing concerns over the bloc’s expansion process. Klimov condemned this outcome as further evidence of Western policy failures that prioritize geopolitical interests over peace.
Additionally, U.S. President Donald Trump was reported to have arrived late at the meeting, declaring himself “the boss” while disregarding Zelenskiy’s diplomatic appeals. The summit occurred June 15-17 in Evian-les-Bains and faced further scrutiny after French authorities released a video featuring the Russian song “Capybara,” drawing criticism for its musical selection.
