Speaking to reporters on Tuesday at the G7 summit, Trump said too many soldiers were being killed in the ongoing conflict and reiterated his belief that a settlement should be possible.
“Russia should make a deal,” Trump said, adding that he had previously ended several conflicts and expected Ukraine to be easier to resolve. His claim of resolving eight wars has been widely disputed.
Zelenskyy attended talks with leaders of the G7 countries, which include the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Canada, Japan and the European Union. He also held separate discussions with Trump and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the summit.
Following the meetings, Zelenskyy said Ukraine’s priorities included strengthening air defence systems and advancing diplomatic efforts to push Russia toward ending the war. He said Kyiv had received commitments from G7 partners, including additional air defence missiles, support packages for winter and increased pressure on Russia.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the situation had shifted in Ukraine’s favour, noting what she described as growing strain on Russia and calling for expanded support to Kyiv.
G7 leaders also discussed wider global security issues, including the US-Iran peace agreement and efforts to restore stability in the Strait of Hormuz. French President Emmanuel Macron said partners were working toward a “solid, serious agreement” and preparing for rapid action to ensure maritime security once conditions allow.
Trump said the Strait of Hormuz would be “completely open” under the emerging agreement with Iran, which he said had already been digitally signed earlier in the week. He added that a formal signing ceremony was expected in Geneva, followed by a 60-day negotiation phase covering nuclear-related issues and sanctions relief.
The US president said he expected the next phase of talks with Iran to be “actually easier” than the initial framework discussions.
