Trump Advocates for Peace in Ukraine
President Donald Trump expressed that now, with concerns about Iran “in the rearview mirror,” it’s time for Russia to finalize a deal. During a G7 meeting, he emphasized the urgency of addressing the ongoing war in Ukraine, which he stated was resulting in significant casualties each month.
This message became clear on the second day of the G7 summit, held in Evian, France. Delays in multilateral discussions among key leaders occurred as Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy were notably absent.
Later, Trump revealed he had an impromptu meeting with Zelenskiy that morning. Meanwhile, other leaders reportedly waited for his arrival, curious about the situation.
Following this, Trump engaged in a bilateral meeting with the emir of Qatar, where conversations primarily centered around the conflict in Iran. He reiterated points about the Ukraine war, mentioning a previous positive meeting with Zelenskiy and hinting at plans for another meeting the same day. “Listen,” he stated, “Russia should come to an agreement. Both Russia and Ukraine have faced heavy losses.”
“Last month, approximately 35,000 soldiers were lost on both sides,” Trump noted. He remarked on the alarming average loss of around 25,000 monthly, primarily involving young soldiers.
Trump also mentioned having spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin, highlighting the significant animosity that exists between him and Zelenskiy, which, he argued, needs to be addressed.
Now, as attention shifts from Iran back to Ukraine, Trump stressed, “We were focused on Iran, and now that will be in the rearview mirror.”
In reflection, Zelenskiy later remarked on the discussions, appreciating the “strong ideas” concerning how to steer Russia toward peace. He noted the necessity for “more air defense missiles” and a winter aid package, emphasizing that it’s crucial for all discussed measures to be implemented. “Russia must understand that wars will not be normalized,” he said.
While Russia was not present at the G7 summit, having been excluded from the G8 in 2014, they responded to the discussions through a spokesperson. Regarding the possibility of a summit between Putin and Zelenskiy, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov humorously suggested that such a meeting might take place in Moscow.
