Russia should make peace deal, Trump says after 'very good' Zelenskiy meeting

Highlights

• Trump urges Russia to strike peace deal after G7 talks with Zelenskiy
• Zelenskiy and Europe press Trump for more support as Kyiv gains leverage
• G7 discusses Iran deal, with Europe warning against weak terms

US President Donald Trump ​said on Tuesday that Russia should make a peace deal with Ukraine, adding that he would do what he could to ‌end the war after a "very good" meeting between President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Group of Seven leaders at a summit in France.

Trump arrived at the June 15-17 G7 summitin the lakeside resort of Evian-les-Bains brandishing a preliminary deal to end the conflict with Iran and with a renewed focus on finishing the war in Ukraine.

Trump cheered his meeting with Zelenskiy and other ​G7 presidents at a closed-door session on Tuesday, adding that he would meet bilaterally with the Ukrainian leader later.

"I'm gonna do whatever ​I can," Trump said, adding that Russia should strike a deal.

Zelenskiy and European diplomats hope to impress upon Trump ⁠that Ukraine's fortunes have improved as Kyiv pushes for more support to strengthen its hand in eventual peace talks with Moscow.

EUROPE AND UKRAINE SEEK ​TO CHANGE TRUMP'S MIND

"The key focus is to strengthen air defense for Ukraine and advance diplomacy, to make Russia end its war," Zelenskiy posted on X ​after the meeting. "Peace is needed."

European diplomats said the tone of the meeting had been constructive.

"We now seem to have joint analysis: that Russia is in the defensive now," the diplomat said, adding that Trump had stayed until the end of the session.

European diplomats hope to convince Trump that previous US positions on possible terms of a deal ​were overly favourable towards Moscow, particularly now that Ukraine's drone incursions into Russia have improved its fortunes.

"The tide is turning for Ukraine. The situation in 2026 is ​very different from 2025. Ukraine is bravely holding the frontline," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen posted on X. "Russia's fatigue is openly showing. That's the time to ‌double down ⁠on our support."

Zelenskiy is pushing for renewed momentum and a greater European role. He said on Monday he had offered to meet Putin at the G7 summit. Putin has repeatedly dismissed the idea of direct talks with Zelenskiy unless they are held in Moscow.

European leaders were also set to warn Trump that a superficial interim deal with Iran risks entrenching Tehran's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.

French President Emmanuel Macron said the priority was to ensure there is a "solid, serious agreement ​that is finalised".

He said Tuesday's working ​lunch would focus on the safe ⁠reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, including a possible Franco-British-led maritime mission.

G7 TO EXAMINE HORMUZ SHIPPING PROBLEM

It would also seek to identify alternative routes to bypass the waterway, which Iran has largely closed since shortly after it was attacked ​by the US and Israel at the end of February. Trump said the strait would be "completely open" on ​Friday.

The interim deal ⁠should open a 60-day window for complex technical negotiations that would include the fate of Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium and the lifting of international sanctions.

However, European allies fear that an inexperienced US negotiating team may fail to secure a robust nuclear agreement or address Iran's ballistic missile programme in the next phase, potentially creating ⁠a prolonged ​standoff.

France, Britain and Germany want a role shaping the coming talks after being sidelined in ​recent months.

The three countries first engaged Iran on its nuclear programme in 2003 and later worked with then-US president Barack Obama to secure a 2015 deal in exchange for sanctions relief. ​Trump is scornful of that accord, which he pulled the US out of during his first presidency.