Donald Trump urges Russia to sign Ukraine peace deal at G7 summit

At the G7 summit in Evian‑les‑Bains, France (June 15‑17 2026), U.S. President Donald Trump met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and said Russia should conclude a peace agreement with Ukraine. He told reporters he would do everything possible to end the war, adding that he had already ended eight conflicts and considered the Ukraine dispute the easiest to resolve.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz described Trump as cooperative and attentive during the talks on Ukraine, noting a renewed optimism among European leaders. The summit also saw a Russian Kremlin adviser, Yuri Ušakov, claim that European leaders had "inoculated" Trump with harmful ideas, though he insisted Trump remains a strong politician and denied any post‑summit contacts between Russia and the United States.

The meeting occurred against a backdrop of intensified Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian territory, including an attack on a large oil refinery near Moscow, which the Kremlin described as false propaganda.

European officials expressed cautious optimism that Russia’s military fatigue could open a window for negotiations, while also discussing additional sanctions on Russian oil, banking and defence sectors.