U.S. President Donald Trump called for Russia to make peace with Ukraine following a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky at the G7 summit. G7 leaders expressed cautious optimism for a potential peace deal.
The statements from President Trump and G7 leaders signal a potential shift in international efforts to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with a focus on de-escalation and increased support for Ukraine's defense capabilities.
U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Russia should make peace with Ukraine following a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy at the G7 summit in France. Trump cited the heavy losses on both sides of the conflict as a reason for a deal.
His comments sparked cautious optimism among G7 leaders that a peace deal could be struck, a sentiment starkly contrasting with Zelenskiy's previous meeting with Trump where he was told he had no leverage.
Zelenskiy and European allies aimed to impress upon Trump that Ukraine's battlefield fortunes had improved, partly due to drone incursions into Russia. Trump, who arrived with a preliminary deal to end the Iran war, pledged to do what he could to end the Ukraine conflict, though concrete steps were not detailed.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz found Trump cooperative and attentive, expressing a degree of optimism that Europeans and Americans are working together to end the war. Zelenskiy reported that G7 leaders agreed Russia was not winning and that additional sanctions targeting Russia's oil, banking sector, and military production were discussed.
Zelenskiy also offered to meet Russia's Vladimir Putin at the G7 summit, though a Kremlin aide stated this was not discussed in a call between Trump and Putin. European diplomats described the tone of the meeting between Zelenskiy and Trump as constructive, though Trump was reportedly noncommittal on further U.S. sanctions.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen noted that Russia's fatigue was showing and it was time to increase support for Ukraine. A French diplomat indicated that G7 leaders committed to providing Kyiv with more air defense capabilities.