Trump claims Iran deal, eyes Ukraine peace at G7 summit

U.S. President Donald Trump joined global leaders at the Group of Seven summit in Évian-les-Bains, France, where he presented a preliminary deal aimed at ending the Iran war and declared his intention to pursue peace in Ukraine and Lebanon. Trump's arrival at the summit comes amid growing wariness among world leaders regarding the U.S. While many welcomed the potential closure to the Iran conflict, concerns lingered over new tariff threats against France and warnings about immigration.

Alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, Trump stated that a memorandum of understanding to end the war in the Gulf had been signed by the U.S. and Iran, though details on its release were unclear. He noted that ships were already transiting the Strait of Hormuz toll-free. With the Iran deal secured, Trump indicated his focus would shift to brokering peace between Ukraine and Russia, as well as resolving the conflict in Lebanon. He mentioned having had positive conversations with Presidents Zelenskiy and Putin, who he believes are open to peace.

The G7 leaders are set to address various issues during the summit, including global economic imbalances, the sourcing of critical minerals outside of China, and artificial intelligence. French President Macron's strategy for the summit involved tailoring the agenda and offering personalized attention to Trump, aiming to keep him engaged on critical topics like Ukraine and Iran, and to showcase allied contributions to Ukraine's war effort. Macron views the G7 as an opportunity to reinforce allied cohesion and pressure on Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the G7 summit to revive stalled peace negotiations. Zelensky indicated that Ukraine had sought to arrange such a meeting involving key Western leaders, including Trump and Macron, given their presence at the summit. Zelensky and Trump are expected to meet during the summit.