EVIAN, France: US President Donald Trump said on Monday that both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared open to efforts aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, following separate telephone conversations with the two leaders.
Speaking alongside French President Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, Trump said he believed there was an opportunity to make progress towards a settlement of the more than four-year-old conflict.
“We had a very good conversation yesterday with President Zelenskyy and President Putin, and I see maybe we can do something there. I really do. I think they’re both open to it,” Trump told reporters.
Trump did not provide further details about the conversations but said he had held “two very good conversations” on Sunday.
Trump suggested that Washington would now devote greater attention to the Ukraine conflict after securing a breakthrough in efforts to end the conflict between the United States and Iran.
“The Iran war is finished,” Trump said.
“So, you know, now that this is finished, we’re going to be focusing on that (ending the Ukraine war) … see if we can get that one done,” he added.
His comments came as world leaders gathered in France for the G7 summit, where the war in Ukraine remains one of the key issues on the agenda.
On Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy each held separate telephone conversations with Trump.
Putin’s call with Trump lasted under an hour, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters.
According to Ushakov, Trump stressed the need to end hostilities in Ukraine and expressed readiness to encourage both European allies and Kyiv to support that goal, including during discussions at the G7 summit.
According to Ushakov, Trump said a rapid end to the war could pave the way for “a truly new quality of US-Russian relations”.
Putin, meanwhile, also indicated that he remained open to direct talks with Zelenskyy.
“If Zelenskyy wants a meeting with him, let him come to Moscow,” Ushakov quoted Putin as saying.
Ushakov added that US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner were expected to travel to Russia soon, although no timeline was provided.
Zelenskyy also described his call with Trump in positive terms.
Writing on Telegram, the Ukrainian president said he had a “wonderful conversation” with the US leader on Sunday.
Zelenskyy said he and Trump discussed “what could help bring peace closer now”.
“We agreed to discuss more during our meeting at the G7 summit,” Zelenskyy said.
