ENGL_SLUG: zelensky-trump-peace-talks-g7-evian
FOCUSWORD: Zelensky Trump peace talks G7 Evian
A new diplomatic push to end the war in Ukraine appears to be taking shape. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump engaged in a detailed phone conversation on Sunday, setting the stage for crucial in-person talks at the G7 summit beginning Monday in Evian, France.
A “Great Conversation” Amid Birthday Wishes
The call, which came as President Trump celebrated his 80th birthday, described by both sides as substantive and forward-looking. President Zelensky stated on social media platform X that the two leaders “discussed measures that can help establish peace right now.”
“I informed the President about the latest developments on battlefield and the strengthening of our positions We agreed to deepen these discussions during our meeting at the G7 summit,” Zelensky added, characterizing the exchange as a “great conversation.”
A senior advisor to the Ukrainian presidency, Dmytro Lytvyn, told reporters the discussion was “rather rich” and lasted 30 and 35 minutes.
Putin Also Speaks with Trump, Agrees to US Envoy Visit
In a parallel diplomatic development, Russian President Vladimir Putin also held a phone call with President Trump on Sunday afternoon. The two leaders discussed the war in the Middle East as well as the Ukrainian conflict. According to a Russian, they agreed that American emissaries would travel to Russia “soon.”
This flurry of high-level contacts comes after months of stalled negotiations. Several rounds of US-led talks aimed at finding a resolution to the war have failed to bring Kyiv and Moscow closer to an agreement, with the process languishing as Washington’s attention shifted towards Iran.
Seeking to “Restore Momentum” at Evian
On June 8, President Zelensky met with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, emphasizing the critical need to “restore momentum to diplomacy.” The G7 summit in Evian now provides the most significant opportunity in weeks for direct engagement. President Zelensky is scheduled to participate in a working meeting with G7 leaders on Tuesday with President Trump in attendance.
The backdrop to these talks remains grim. A Russian drone attack killed one person in northeastern Ukraine, and separate strikes left five dead just before a meeting between the Ukrainian, French, German, and British leaders. The renewed diplomatic activity signals a potential, yet fragile, pathway toward de-escalation.
