Trump and Zelenskyy hold face-to-face talks at G7 summit
Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy met in person on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France for the first time in nearly four months. During the meeting, Trump stated that Russia needs to reach an agreement to end the war and announced another bilateral meeting with Zelenskyy later that same day. Earlier, a trilateral meeting involving the United States, France, and Ukraine had taken place in France.
Military casualties and the push for peace
Donald Trump highlighted the scale of military losses, reporting that over the past month, the combined armies had lost 35,000 soldiers. He described the situation as madness, stating:
“Look, Russia has to make a deal. Russia has lost a huge number of people, and so has Ukraine. Last month, they lost 35,000 soldiers combined. What is happening there is sheer madness.” — Donald Trump
Trump also indicated he would turn his attention to the war in Ukraine after the escalation involving Iran, saying: 'I will do it. We’ll see. We have been focused on Iran.' He confirmed that the U.S. only sells weapons to Ukraine rather than providing them for free and emphasized that he has already 'settled eight wars.' Trump called the meeting with Zelenskyy very good while speaking with the Emir of Qatar and confirmed his intention to meet with Zelenskyy again in the evening.
This meeting carries significant weight in international diplomacy, as both sides stress the urgent need for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine amid mounting casualties. According to Trump, he plans to intensify efforts to achieve peace, which could signal a shift in U.S. foreign policy priorities. The additional bilateral talks may represent a crucial step forward in this process.
As discussions around the conflict continue, it's important to note that Trump emphasized the need for both Zelenskyy and Putin to take the lead in peace negotiations. This perspective underscores the complexity of finding a resolution, as it relies heavily on the willingness of the involved parties to engage in dialogue.