EVIAN, France: US President Donald Trump on Tuesday urged Russia to make a peace deal with Ukraine, saying he would continue efforts to end the war, following talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other leaders at the Group of Seven (G7) summit in France.
Speaking to reporters in Evian-les-Bains near the Swiss border, Trump said too many lives were being lost in the conflict and called for a negotiated settlement.
“I’m gonna do whatever I can,” Trump said. “Look, Russia should make a deal.”
He added that ending the conflict had proved more difficult than expected.
“I settled eight wars. This was the one I thought was going to be the easiest to settle,” Trump said.
Zelenskyy joined G7 leaders on Tuesday morning for discussions focused on the war in Ukraine and broader security challenges facing Europe.
The G7 comprises the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan and the European Union.
The Ukrainian president also held separate discussions with Trump and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the summit.
Following the meeting, Zelenskyy said strengthening Ukraine’s air defences and advancing diplomatic efforts remained key priorities.
“The key focus is to strengthen air defence for Ukraine and advance diplomacy, to make Russia end its war,” he wrote on X. “Peace is needed.”
Zelenskyy said he had received important commitments from G7 partners, including additional air defence missiles, licences to produce them domestically, a winter support package and increased pressure on Russia.
“Importantly, the US is ready to provide backstop across these lines of effort,” he said.
“It is key that everything discussed be implemented. Russia must come to learn that its war will never be normalised. I thank everyone who’s helping.”
European leaders attending the summit expressed confidence in Ukraine’s ability to sustain its defence against Russian forces.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the situation had evolved significantly over the past year.
“The tide is turning for Ukraine. The situation in 2026 is very different from 2025. Ukraine is bravely holding the frontline,” she wrote on X.
