“Look, Russia should make a deal.” That was Donald Trump’s line to reporters after a “very good” meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky at the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, on Tuesday. It was a firmer tone than many European leaders had expected, and it drew cautious optimism from the people around the table.
Trump added that too many young men were dying on the battlefield on both sides. He said he would do what he could to end the war, but details of any concrete steps to pressure Moscow were few. Two European diplomats said he stayed noncommittal on the further U.S. sanctions that Europeans want.
Merz and von der Leyen read the room
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called Trump’s statement cause for cheer. “I found him to be very cooperative, and I also saw him listening very attentively,” Merz told reporters.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was more pointed, writing on X: “The tide is turning for Ukraine.” She went on: “Russia’s fatigue is openly showing. That’s the time to double down on our support.”
The G7 joint statement pledged “unwavering support” for Kyiv, including more air defences, long-range weapons and tighter sanctions on Russian oil and gas, according to EU Alive. A French diplomat said leaders committed to more air defence, a key Zelensky priority as civilian strikes by Russia increase. Trump described Russia as the “offensive” party and acknowledged Moscow is losing more soldiers than Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed what he called a “real change in approach.”
What Zelensky brought
Zelensky and his allies arrived hoping to show Trump that Ukraine’s position had improved thanks to drone incursions deep into Russia. After the group meeting, Zelensky told Reuters the leaders agreed Russia was not winning the war. They also discussed more sanctions aimed at Russia’s oil exports, banks and military production.
Two European diplomats said Zelensky showed Trump images of a Russian strike on Kyiv’s Pechersk Lavra monastery the day before. One said Trump voiced disapproval; the other called it “psychologically” a good move. Diplomats described the meeting’s tone as constructive.
Zelensky said teams would meet over the next 24 hours “at various levels,” and that he expected to meet Trump separately again. He had said on Monday that he offered to meet Vladimir Putin at the summit, but a Kremlin aide said the idea did not come up in a call between Trump and Putin.
The 2025 comparison
The mood contrasts with February 2025, when Trump told Zelensky in the Oval Office, “You don’t have the cards.” The war is now deep into its fifth year.
EU Alive, a Brussels outlet, cautioned that it is too early to call this a fundamental shift. Trump has long put a quick end to the war first and has often stressed a negotiated settlement that might require compromises from Kyiv. Whether the current alignment lasts once detailed negotiations resume remains unsettled.
Iran also hung over the summit. Trump arrived with a preliminary deal to end his war with Iran, and said Washington could now let Russian oil waivers lapse because the interim accord had calmed markets. He did not address broader punitive measures.
Sources
- Trump’s shift on Ukraine at the G7: a tactical adjustment or the start of something more?
- Trump U-turn on Ukraine gives G7 leaders hope war with Russia will end soon | News24
