{
  "id": 8261166,
  "title": "Macron to call emergency G7 meeting as energy prices spike and Russian hybrid attacks mount",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/macron-to-call-emergency-g7-meeting-as-energy-prices-spike-and",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-18T14:57:14.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Politico EU",
    "slug": "politico-eu",
    "url": "https://www.politico.eu/article/emmanuel-macron-to-call-emergency-g7-meeting-as-energy-prices-spike-and-russian-hybrid-attacks-mount/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Friday that he would convene an emergency Group of Seven (G7) summit to tackle soaring global energy costs and explore the possibility of releasing strategic oil reserves. The G7 meeting will focus on enhancing cooperation and preventing undue tensions among G7 nations and their key partners, according to Macron during a press conference held at the Elysée Palace. This decision follows a rare crisis meeting chaired by Macron, where French intelligence chiefs briefed political leaders and candidates in the upcoming presidential election about the dangers posed by Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East. Both conflicts have contributed to record-high fuel prices in France. Macron emphasized the seriousness of the situation, attributing it to the international climate and the consequences of ongoing wars. He stressed the necessity of unity in the face of these challenges. However, France's financial predicament, which includes a planned €54 billion budget cut for the following year, limits the government's capacity to substantially subsidize rising energy expenses. Nonetheless, the government is actively exploring targeted assistance plans. Macron also sought to strengthen France's oil and gas supply during recent discussions with leaders from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. He further plans to discuss petroleum trade and liquefied natural gas with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney during their meeting later on Sunday. To counter the surge in cyberattacks and hybrid threats from Russia, including recent attacks on a Ukrainian passenger train and Leipzig airport in Germany, France is ramping up its efforts to safeguard critical infrastructure and defense production facilities. Notable attendees at the crisis meeting included center-right former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, centrist Gabriel Attal, conservative candidate Bruno Retailleau, center-left candidate Raphaël Glucksmann, leader of the Greens Marine Tondelier, and Socialist Party chief Olivier Faure. During the meeting, various political figures acknowledged the gravity of the issues discussed. Guillaume Lacroix, who heads a minor left-wing party, expressed his vertigo upon hearing the gravity of the discussions, saying it was the most vertiginous situation he had witnessed in 50 years. Despite his acknowledgment of the gravity of the situation, Macron's opponents criticized him for not presenting any solutions to alleviate energy prices during the forum.",
  "summary": "The French leader warned there was no quick fix to high energy prices, and wars in the Middle East and Ukraine.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}