Trump urges Russia to make Ukraine peace deal after G7 meeting

Donald Trump, attending the G7 summit in France, declared that Russia ought to pursue a peace agreement with Ukraine. He conveyed his intention to contribute to ending the war, noting the significant loss of young lives on both sides. "Look, Russia should make a deal," Trump told reporters. "I settled eight wars. This was the one I thought was going to be the easiest to settle."

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I’m gonna do whatever I can. Look, Russia should make a deal. I settled eight wars. This was the one I thought was going to be the easiest to settle.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with G7 leaders, including Trump, at the summit. Zelensky sought to emphasize Ukraine's improved standing and urged for sustained support to bolster its position in future peace talks with Moscow. Images shared by Ukraine's presidency showed Zelensky in discussions with Trump and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Zelensky posted on X after the meeting, "The key focus is to strengthen air defense for Ukraine and advance diplomacy, to make Russia end its war. Peace is needed."

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The key focus is to strengthen air defense for Ukraine and advance diplomacy, to make Russia end its war. Peace is needed.

European diplomats described the meeting's tone as constructive, noting a shared understanding that Russia is currently on the defensive. Concurrently, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that the UK is implementing a new set of sanctions against Russia. These measures include targeting "shadow" tankers involved in transporting LNG, aiming to pressure Moscow to cease its military operations in Ukraine. "Working with our G7 allies, we will continue to increase the pressure on Putin and his circle of collaborators until Russia’s war machine is brought to a halt and peace returns to our continent," Starmer stated.

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We now seem to have joint analysis: that Russia is in the defensive now.