Trump pushes for Russia-Ukraine peace after G7 meeting with Zelensky
At the G7 summit in Évian, President Trump urged a Russia-Ukraine peace deal and said he will meet President Zelensky as leaders debate how to increase pressure on Moscow.
President Donald Trump told reporters at the Évian-les-Bains resort that Russia should reach a peace agreement with Ukraine, and he signalled he would try to contribute to such an outcome following a leaders’ meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The comments came as summit delegates renewed focus on the Ukraine war after a reported US-Iran accord shifted attention to the Middle East. Mr. Trump described his earlier exchange with Mr. Zelensky as “very good” and indicated a private discussion was scheduled later on Tuesday.
Trump speaks from Évian resort overlooking Lake Geneva
President Trump made his remarks from the French lakeside venue hosting the G7 summit, framing a potential role for the United States in brokering a settlement. He emphasised his willingness to engage in diplomacy while stopping short of outlining concrete steps to increase pressure on Moscow. The setting underscored the international spotlight on Ukraine as leaders met for talks that mixed security, economic, and geopolitical agendas.
Scheduled bilateral meeting with President Zelensky
A private meeting between President Trump and President Zelensky was set to take place later in the day, according to attendees at the summit. Ukrainian and Western officials have pressed for increased support to strengthen Kyiv’s position ahead of any negotiations, arguing that leverage is key to a viable peace deal. Mr. Trump’s aides said the bilateral conversation would cover Ukraine’s needs as well as possible U.S. contributions to a negotiated settlement.
European leaders press case for sustained support to Kyiv
European leaders used the G7 platform to urge continued aid and political backing for Ukraine, asserting that sustained international support bolsters Kyiv’s negotiating position. Several European delegations signalled a desire to see Ukraine retain battlefield advantages before any talks that could determine borders or security guarantees. Diplomats and officials said discussions also covered economic measures and potential coordinated steps to keep pressure on Moscow.
Uncertainty over concrete pressure measures on Moscow
While President Trump voiced support for a Russia-Ukraine peace, officials at the summit acknowledged there was limited consensus on specific measures to increase pressure on Moscow. Discussions ranged from stepped-up sanctions and arms supplies to diplomatic isolation, but leaders stopped short of announcing new coordinated actions. Analysts and diplomats at Évian said the gap between endorsing a peace outcome and agreeing on the instruments to achieve it remained a central challenge.
Summit context shifted by Middle East developments
The summit’s Ukraine deliberations unfolded against a backdrop of a separate US-Iran understanding aimed at ending recent Middle East hostilities, which briefly redirected leaders’ attention. That development prompted allied capitals to reassess priorities and timelines for collective action on multiple crises. Delegates noted the need to balance efforts to stabilise one region while maintaining sustained engagement on the conflict in Ukraine.
The G7 meeting brought renewed scrutiny to how Western capitals can best support Ukraine without foreclosing future negotiations, with President Trump positioning himself as a potential interlocutor. Leaders left Évian with a shared emphasis on the importance of a durable settlement, but with divergent views on sequencing, leverage and the role of external mediation. The coming bilateral talks between Mr. Trump and Mr. Zelensky were expected to clarify whether U.S. engagement would translate into specific proposals aimed at advancing Russia-Ukraine peace.