European Leaders Call on Trump to Host Ukraine-Russia Talks
At the G7 summit in France, European leaders urged US President Donald Trump to attempt to break the stalemate in the Ukraine conflict by hosting talks between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin on US soil.
Trump acknowledged the significant hostility between the Ukrainian and Russian leaders, which complicates reaching a settlement, and pledged to do what he could. He emphasized that Moscow "should make a deal," noting that Russia had "lost a great many people, just like Ukraine."
Zelenskyy, attending the summit in Évian-les-Bains at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron, is seeking to re-engage Trump, hoping the US administration will be less distracted following the recent 60-day ceasefire agreement in Iran.
Macron, overheard on a hot mic during the summit, admitted to Zelenskyy that he had difficult discussions with Trump on Monday regarding Ukraine.
During a morning session with G7 leaders and Zelenskyy, Trump stated he would do what he could, and German sources reported that Trump recognized that Russia was in a weaker position than previously believed.
The G7 leaders, representing the US, Japan, France, Canada, the UK, Italy, and Germany, also agreed to intensify sanctions on Russian energy. The European Union is preparing its 21st sanctions package, which includes restrictions on the sale of LNG tankers to Russia.
Zelenskyy Meets Trump and Macron Amid Summit
Zelenskyy, who initially did not have a bilateral meeting scheduled with Trump, eventually met the US president alongside Macron for their first face-to-face meeting in four months. Zelenskyy sought to persuade Trump that Ukraine was no longer losing on the battlefield and argued that the US role should evolve from being a messenger between the two sides to a mediator supportive of Ukraine. This meeting delayed the start of the full summit.
Trump had spoken with both Zelenskyy and Putin on Sunday before traveling to the summit and claimed both leaders were open to a meeting. He described the war's death toll as "ridiculous."
Despite frustration over his inability to secure a deal requiring Ukraine to cede territory it had not lost militarily, Trump appears to regard the US as neutral in the conflict and is particularly eager to see economic sanctions on Russia lifted to enable projects such as an Alaska-Siberia tunnel.
European Partners Seek Direct Involvement in Talks
Zelenskyy and his main European partners—the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Macron—acknowledge that short-term talks with Russia may be unlikely but hope Trump's engagement could facilitate negotiations in the autumn.
The E3 group (UK, Germany, and France) also seeks direct representation in the talks, as they now provide nearly all financial and military support to Ukraine.
During the G7 talks, Putin's special representative Kirill Dmitriev maintained a steady stream of social media posts criticizing European leaders, including welcoming Starmer's political difficulties. Dmitriev wrote,
"EU/UK warmongering ‘poison pills’ to derail peace discussions are too obvious and delay peace by pushing tired, unrealistic solutions. Hypocrisy does not work well when exposed."
Zelenskyy Highlights Military Reforms and Ukrainian Strikes
At the G7, Zelenskyy informed leaders of reforms to army pay aimed at sustaining frontline recruitment levels. This counters claims by US Vice-President JD Vance, a consistent critic of Ukraine within the US administration, who has repeatedly asserted that Ukraine is destined to lose due to Russia's superior recruitment capacity.
Zelenskyy also confirmed that Ukrainian drones had set fire to Moscow's largest oil refinery, located about 9 miles (15 km) from the Kremlin and 300 miles (500 km) from Ukraine. He stated,
"Russia must be forced to end its war against our people. And Ukraine’s long-range weapons are one of the important components of such pressure. This is a just response to Russian strikes – and to the dragging out of a war that must be ended."
European Leaders Advocate for Inclusive Negotiations
European leaders emphasize their desire to be involved in any negotiations. Macron stated on Monday,
"The right negotiation is one in which Ukraine and Russia are at the table, but with Europeans and Americans present as well."
German government sources indicated that the most realistic negotiation format would include Ukraine and Russia alongside the United States and Europe. However, the key challenge remains determining who will represent Europe. They argued that Kyiv now negotiates from a position of strength, as Russia cannot win militarily and its economy is under strain.
Internal European discussions about appointing a special representative to lead Europe in the talks encountered a setback when Finnish President Alexander Stubb declined the potential role, stating,
"Personally, I do not see myself as a representative in this matter. I believe this should be led by the major players, namely France, Germany and the UK."Diplomats are seeking a prominent figure, such as a former prime minister, for the position.
Nonetheless, Stubb supported the idea of talks, commenting,
"We are currently in a situation where Ukraine holds strong positions militarily, politically and economically. Therefore, I believe the time has come for Europe to establish contact with Russia’s leadership, specifically President Putin, in order to conduct diplomatic negotiations."
