U.S. President Donald Trump met privately with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday during the G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains, France [1, 3].
This meeting marks a critical point of coordination between the U.S. and Ukraine as G7 leaders seek a resolution to the ongoing conflict. The dialogue focuses on the potential for a negotiated settlement and the strategic role of international pressure on Moscow.
The two leaders held a working session to discuss the war in Ukraine [2, 5]. Following the encounter, Trump said the interaction was a "very good meeting" [2].
Trump emphasized the necessity of a diplomatic resolution to the conflict. He said that "Russia should make a deal" [4].
Earlier in the day, Trump said that he would have a one-on-one meeting with President Zelensky later on Tuesday [2]. While some reports indicated the two leaders were not originally scheduled for a solo meeting, Trump touted the private session after it occurred [2, 6].
The meeting took place alongside broader G7 discussions in Évian-les-Bains, where Zelensky met with other world leaders to secure continued support for Ukraine [1, 3]. The discussions centered on urging Russia to negotiate a settlement to end the violence [5].
“"very good meeting"”
The private nature of the meeting suggests a desire for direct communication between the U.S. and Ukraine outside the formal G7 plenary sessions. By calling for Russia to make a deal, Trump is signaling a preference for a negotiated settlement, which may influence how the U.S. leverages its diplomatic and military support to push for a ceasefire.
