US President Donald Trump urged Russia to secure a peace agreement with Ukraine following a productive meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensyy at the G7 summit in France. Speaking on Tuesday in the lakeside resort of Evian-les-Bains, Trump promised active US engagement to resolve the conflict.
“I’m gonna do whatever I can,” Trump told reporters, noting that too many young men are dying on the battlefield. Furthermore, he emphasized the necessity of a diplomatic breakthrough.
“Look, Russia should make a deal,” Trump added. “I settled eight wars. This was the one I thought was going to be the easiest to settle.”
Shifting Battlefield Dynamics
Meanwhile, European leaders and Zelenskyy used the three-day summit to demonstrate Ukraine’s improved position, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen highlighted this shift on social media.
“The tide is turning for Ukraine. The situation in 2026 is very different from 2025,” she wrote, adding that visible Russian fatigue requires allies to double down on support.
Consequently, European diplomats described the closed-door talks as highly constructive. One European official noted that G7 leaders now share an analysis showing Russia on the defensive.
Additionally, a French diplomat confirmed that the summit participants agreed to provide Kyiv with stronger air defense capabilities to maintain this momentum.
Push for Diplomacy
Zelenskyy continues to advocate for a greater European role and renewed diplomatic efforts. “The key focus is to strengthen air defense for Ukraine and advance diplomacy, to make Russia end its war,” the Ukrainian leader posted on X.
However, direct negotiations face significant hurdles. Zelenskiy recently offered to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin at the summit venue. Putin, conversely, has repeatedly dismissed the idea of direct talks unless the leaders meet in Moscow.
Trump, alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio, expects to continue these high-stakes discussions as the summit concludes on 17 June.
