Evangelical-les-bains: The G7 meeting was relieved to see hope of ending the Russia-Ukraine war. Leaders of the Group of Seven leading industrial nations (G7) expressed positive sentiments towards peace in Ukraine after U.S. President Donald Trump had a "very smooth and good" discussion with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the 2026 G7 summit in Evangelical-les-Bains, France.
According to Thai News Agency, during discussions with Zelenskyy, Trump stated frankly that Russia should agree to a peace deal because the casualties on both sides had escalated significantly, and affirmed that he would do everything possible to end the conflict. German Chancellor Friedrich Mertz stated that Trump's statement calling on Russia to end the war was very welcome, praising his cooperation and willingness to listen fully, which sparked hope that Europe and America could work together to successfully end the war. Meanwhile, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, pointed out that the situation in 2026 is completely different from the previous year. Russia is showing clear signs of fatigue, especially after Ukraine's successful drone strikes deep into Russian energy infrastructure, which has increased Ukraine's bargaining power in negotiations.
Meanwhile, G7 leaders agreed that Russia is no longer the winner of the war and pledged to provide Ukraine with additional air defense systems to counter Russian attacks. However, despite European leaders' efforts to push the U.S. to increase sanctions against Russia in the oil export, banking, and military production sectors, Trump remained hesitant and did not provide clear commitments on the matter. Meanwhile, the leaders of France and the United Kingdom tried to persuade Trump that the U.S.'s previous peace proposals seemed too beneficial to Russia and emphasized that any future agreement must be based on conditions acceptable to Ukraine. Trump stated that a comprehensive peace agreement was the best solution, rather than a temporary ceasefire which is often unsustainable.
Zelenskyy stated that he was ready to meet directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin before winter, but a Kremlin spokesman rejected the offer, citing that Russia was not yet ready and that no official channels of communication were currently open. Analysts believe that although no concrete plan has yet emerged, Trump's shift in focus to pressure Russia while cooperating with allies is a significant step that offers many diplomats a glimmer of hope in the process of ending the Ukrainian war.