Zelensky and Trump Discuss Peace Talks Ahead of G7 Summit

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday that he had spoken to US President Donald Trump ahead of this week's G7 meeting in France to discuss efforts to end more than four years of war.

Zelensky said in a Telegram post that he congratulated Trump on his 80th birthday and thanked him for Washington's support throughout the conflict. "I wished President Trump every success, first and foremost in his efforts to end Russia's war against Ukraine", Zelensky said.

Ahead of the G7 meeting in Evian-les-Bains, where leaders are expected to discuss Russia's war in Ukraine on Tuesday, Zelensky said he had also discussed the stance of their international partners with Trump. "We talked about what could help to bring peace closer right now, and I updated the president on the latest developments on the battlefield and how our position has strengthened", he said. "We have some good ideas that could help bring peace closer."

US-brokered talks aimed at ending the war have stalled as Washington remains focused on the conflict with Iran. Zelensky has said in recent weeks, however, that shifting battlefield dynamics in Ukraine's favor have opened up the opportunity for a peace deal.

(reuters, im)