Trump to Putin: “Russia should make an agreement”

The US would “soon be able” to do this, Trump said. He called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to begin negotiations to end the war. “Russia should make a deal,” Trump said in Evian. He confirmed that he had met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy bilaterally at the summit and that another conversation with him was planned. Zelensky was invited to the meeting as a guest and also took part in the summit session on Ukraine that morning.

Trump acknowledged that he has been “focused on Iran” in recent months. But this is now taking a back seat, said the US President. He will now deal with Ukraine again, even if the USA actually has nothing to do with the conflict apart from arms sales that are paid for by the EU.

“The only reason I’m here is because I don’t want to see 25,000 young people die every month anymore,” Trump said. The whole thing is “ridiculous. I will therefore do everything I can” to end the war.

Russia continues attacks with undiminished severity

Russia has so far shown no interest in negotiations with Ukraine and continues its attacks on Ukraine with undiminished severity. On Monday night, the world heritage cathedral in the area of ​​the famous Cave Monastery in Kiev caught fire after a Russian attack. Zelensky blamed “targeted” Russian drone attacks.

In the past, Trump has repeatedly been accused of taking pro-Russia positions in the Ukraine war. But he now apparently went along with tougher sanctions against Russia. According to French diplomatic circles, the G7 countries agreed to “increase pressure on Russia, particularly through sanctions on oil and gas.” The G7 states also agreed on further military aid for Ukraine, including to strengthen air defense.

Zelenskiy: Must urge Putin to end this war

“It’s great that everyone understands that Russia will not win and that we have to push Putin to end this war,” Zelensky said after the deliberations. He also met with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the morning for bilateral talks. In the run-up to the summit, he had expressed the hope that a “window for diplomacy” could slowly open again in the Ukraine war in view of Kiev’s recent military successes.

German government circles said that “all G7 participants” agreed “that the pressure on Russia must be increased.” There was also a “change in tone” with Trump, and the dynamics in the Ukraine war had also changed. “Ukraine is in a position of strength,” said a German government official. “Russia cannot win this war.”

Great Britain and Canada are increasing the pressure on Russia

The aim of the additional sanctions is for “Russia’s war machine to come to a standstill and peace to return to our continent,” said British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Evian. According to Starmer’s office, 70 new sanctions measures are planned in the UK. They are said to affect, among other things, 20 other tankers from the so-called Russian shadow fleet, which Russia uses to circumvent sanctions on oil and gas exports.

Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney also immediately announced additional sanctions for his country. They targeted more than 160 actors who were associated with the Russian shadow fleet. According to the Canadian government, the sanctions also target the Russian defense sector and actors who are held responsible for disinformation.