As the war in Ukraine rages on, European leaders have made a concerted effort to persuade US President Donald Trump to play host to crucial peace talks between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The proposal, made during the recent G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains, France, is seen as an attempt to break the stalemate in the conflict, which has now entered its second year. With the US administration having brokered a 60-day ceasefire in Iran, there are hopes that diplomatic efforts can be redirected towards finding a resolution in Ukraine.
President Trump acknowledged the deep-seated animosity between Zelenskyy and Putin, describing it as "challenging" to reach a settlement. He pledged his support for the effort, stating that Moscow "should make a deal" given the significant losses endured by both sides. German sources suggest that Trump has come to recognise Russia's current position as weaker than before. In parallel, G7 nations have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening sanctions on Russian energy, with the European Union preparing its 21st package of restrictions, including measures targeting the sale of LNG tankers to Russia.
A bilateral meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump was initially not scheduled, but they eventually met alongside French President Emmanuel Macron in an unscheduled session. During this encounter, Zelenskyy sought to convince Trump that Ukraine is making gains on the battlefield and that the US role should evolve from mere messenger to active mediator in support of Ukraine. The unexpected meeting caused a brief delay to the commencement of the full summit. Earlier, on Sunday, Trump had spoken with both leaders, claiming they were open to a meeting and describing the war's death toll as "ridiculous."
Despite previous frustrations over his inability to broker a deal that might involve Ukraine ceding territory it has not lost militarily, Trump appears to maintain a perception of the US as neutral in the conflict. He also seems keen to see economic sanctions on Russia lifted, potentially to facilitate projects such as an Alaska-Siberia tunnel. Zelenskyy and his key European allies, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and President Macron, acknowledge that immediate talks with Russia may be improbable. However, they harbour hopes that Trump's renewed engagement could pave the way for discussions by autumn. The E3 group – comprising the UK, Germany, and France – are particularly keen to be directly involved in any future talks, given their substantial financial and military contributions to Ukraine.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) continues to advise against all travel to Ukraine due to the ongoing conflict. British nationals in Ukraine are urged to exercise extreme caution and follow local guidance closely.