G7 Leaders Push for Ukraine Peace Deal as Trump Shifts Focus from Iran

Lead with the G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains, where US President Donald Trump and global leaders have pivoted their focus to ending the five-year war in Ukraine. This follows the announcement of a preliminary deal to halt the three-and-a-half-month conflict with Iran. The gathering of major industrialized democracies on the shores of Lake Geneva comes at a critical juncture, as the international community seeks to capitalize on the diplomatic momentum generated by the Gulf ceasefire. With the immediate threat to Middle Eastern oil supplies subsiding, the summit's agenda has rapidly shifted back to Europe's deadliest conflict in decades.[3][6]

Trump told reporters that Russia "should make a deal," calling the mounting death toll on both sides "ridiculous." He confirmed that he held direct telephone conversations with both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday, prior to arriving in France. According to the U.S. president, both leaders expressed an openness to potential negotiations. The upbeat mood regarding the Ukraine war stands in stark contrast to previous diplomatic engagements, sparking cautious optimism among the gathered heads of state that a tangible peace agreement could finally be within reach. Trump emphasized that the war has dragged on long enough, noting that Moscow has "lost a great many people, just like Ukraine," and that he intends to do whatever he can to facilitate an end to the fighting.[1][2][3]

European leaders are actively urging Trump to host direct peace talks between Zelenskyy and Putin in the United States. French President Emmanuel Macron and other allied leaders view the U.S. administration as uniquely positioned to break the diplomatic deadlock. However, they remain cautious about the specific terms of any potential settlement. European diplomats are utilizing the summit's working sessions to convince Washington that previous U.S. proposals may have been overly favorable to Moscow, stressing the importance of maintaining a unified front that does not force Kyiv into unwarranted territorial concessions. Macron, who hosted the summit, was overheard on a hot microphone acknowledging the difficult discussions surrounding the peace process. The overarching goal for the European bloc is to ensure that any U.S.-brokered mediation fully respects Ukraine's sovereignty while providing a realistic off-ramp for the Kremlin.[1][6]

Zelenskyy's negotiating position appears significantly stronger than in previous years, bolstered by recent successful drone incursions deep into Russian territory. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen noted that the tide is turning and that Russia's fatigue is openly showing. Allied leaders are eager to impress upon Trump that Ukraine is no longer losing on the battlefield. They argue that the U.S. role should evolve from merely acting as a messenger between the two warring nations to serving as a mediator that actively supports Ukraine's strategic interests and leverages Russia's current vulnerabilities. By demonstrating that Kyiv can strike critical infrastructure within Russia, Zelenskyy hopes to prove that Moscow does not hold the undisputed initiative. This battlefield reality is central to the argument that Putin must be pressured into accepting a deal rather than being offered an easy exit.[1][2]

During a 30-minute sideline meeting with Trump and Macron, Zelenskyy presented photographs of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra—one of Ukraine's most important religious and historic landmarks—which was recently damaged by a direct Russian strike. Sources familiar with the encounter indicated that Trump appeared visibly moved and disappointed by the destruction of the cultural heritage site. The meeting marked the first face-to-face encounter between Zelenskyy and Trump in over four months, serving as a critical opportunity for the Ukrainian leader to personalize the ongoing toll of the invasion and advocate for sustained American support. The presentation of the damaged orthodox monastery was a calculated diplomatic move to highlight the indiscriminate nature of the Russian bombardment. Following the private viewing of the photographs, the three leaders transitioned into a broader joint working session with the rest of the G7 members, where the defense of Ukrainian airspace became the central topic.[4]

In the subsequent joint working session, G7 leaders unanimously agreed to bolster Ukraine's air defenses against ongoing ballistic missile attacks. Zelenskyy announced that the partners discussed providing additional Patriot missile systems, which are crucial for protecting Ukraine's power grid and civilian centers. Furthermore, the leaders explored the possibility of establishing licensing agreements that would allow Ukraine to manufacture anti-ballistic systems and missiles domestically. Zelenskyy noted that Trump appeared to view the domestic production proposal positively, a step that would significantly enhance Kyiv's long-term military self-sufficiency and reduce its reliance on continuous foreign aid shipments. The commitment to air defense is seen as a necessary precondition for any peace talks, ensuring that Russia cannot simply bomb Ukraine into submission while negotiations are underway. A French diplomat confirmed that providing these capabilities remains a top priority for the alliance.[4][5]

Economic pressure on Moscow is also set to increase dramatically as global energy markets stabilize. Trump signaled that the U.S. is now in a position to reimpose strict sanctions on Russian oil shipments. These sanctions had been temporarily waived to help lower global oil prices during the recent conflict with Iran. With a preliminary deal in place and oil flowing freely through the Strait of Hormuz once again, the U.S. administration believes it has the economic bandwidth to squeeze Russia's primary source of revenue without triggering a domestic energy crisis. "Soon we'll be able to do that, because the oil is now flowing," Trump told reporters, referencing the lapse of the waivers. This renewed economic leverage is viewed as a critical tool for forcing Putin to the negotiating table under terms acceptable to the West.[5][7]

The European Union and the United Kingdom are simultaneously tightening their own economic nets around the Kremlin. The EU is currently preparing its 21st sanctions package, which includes unprecedented restrictions on the sale of liquefied natural gas tankers to Russia. Meanwhile, the U.K. and Canada announced new measures targeting the "shadow fleet" of covert vessels that Moscow uses to export oil and evade existing price caps. By coordinating these financial and logistical blockades, the G7 aims to systematically dismantle the financial networks funding the Russian war machine just as diplomatic efforts accelerate. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney emphasized that the new sanctions will also target defense-industrial actors and disinformation networks. The synchronized transatlantic pressure campaign is designed to leave Moscow with few alternatives but to engage seriously in the proposed peace talks.[1][5][7]

The summit in Évian-les-Bains highlights a complex balancing act for the Group of Seven: maintaining unified, robust support for Ukraine's defense while aggressively pursuing a diplomatic off-ramp. As the Iran conflict rapidly moves into the "rearview mirror," the international community's focus rests entirely on whether Washington can successfully mediate an end to the war in Eastern Europe. If Trump can bring Zelenskyy and Putin to the table in the United States, it could mark the beginning of the end for a conflict that has reshaped global security architectures and devastated millions of lives. The coming weeks will test the durability of the G7's consensus and the effectiveness of the renewed sanctions regime. For now, the cautious optimism radiating from the French lakeside resort suggests that a negotiated settlement is being treated as a realistic, albeit challenging, objective.[2][5]