US President Donald Trump said Tuesday he would continue efforts to help end the war in Ukraine and urged Russia to reach a peace agreement, following what he described as a “very good” meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said too many young people were being killed in the conflict and stressed the need for a negotiated settlement.
“Russia should make a deal,” Trump said, adding that he would do whatever possible to help bring the war to an end.
Zelenskyy joined leaders of the Group of Seven nations — the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Italy and Japan — as well as European Union representatives for discussions focused on Ukraine and regional security.
The Ukrainian president also held talks with Trump and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio during the summit in Evian-les-Bains near the Swiss border.
Following the meeting, Zelenskyy said discussions centred on strengthening Ukraine’s air defence capabilities and advancing diplomatic efforts aimed at ending Russia’s invasion.
In a post on X, he said Ukraine had secured important commitments from G7 partners, including additional air defence missiles, licences for local production of defence systems, a winter support package and increased pressure on Russia.
Zelenskyy also said the United States had expressed readiness to provide support for those initiatives.
“It is key that everything discussed be implemented. Russia must understand that its war will never be normalised,” he said, thanking allies for their continued support.
European officials described the discussions as constructive.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Ukraine had demonstrated resilience on the battlefield and argued that international support should be strengthened further.
“The situation in 2026 is very different from 2025. Ukraine is bravely holding the frontline, while signs of Russian fatigue are becoming more visible,” she said.
The G7 leaders are expected to continue discussions on security assistance, economic support and diplomatic initiatives aimed at ending the conflict.
Source: Al Jazeera