Zelenskyy thanks G7 leaders for ‘strong ideas on how to force Russia into peace’ – Europe live

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European leaders urge Trump to host Zelenskyy-Putin talks

at the G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains

European leaders at the G7 summit have urged Donald Trump to try to break the deadlock over ending the Ukraine war by taking up the proposal for him to host talks in the US between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin.

G7 leaders and guests pose for a family photo during the G7 summit, in Evian-les-Bains, France. Photograph: Christian Hartmann/Reuters

The US president lamented “the great antipathy” between the Ukrainian and Russian leaders that made it difficult to reach a settlement, and vowed to do what he could. He said Moscow “should make a deal”, noting that it had “lost a great many people, just like Ukraine”.

Zelenskyy, attending the summit in the spa town of Évian-les-Bains at the invitation of the French president, Emmanuel Macron, is attempting to re-engage Trump in the hope that the US administration will be less distracted now it has agreed a 60-day ceasefire in Iran.

Macron, caught on a hot mic at the summit, was heard admitting to Zelenskyy he had had difficult discussions with Trump on Monday concerning Ukraine.

Zelenskyy – who did not initially have a bilateral meeting with Trump scheduled – eventually met the US president alongside Macron for his first face-to-face meeting in four months.

He tried to convince Trump that Ukraine was no longer losing on the battlefield, and the US role should not be that of a messenger between the two sides but of a mediator supportive of Ukraine. The meeting delayed the start of the full summit.

US 'soon will be able' to potentially reimpose sanctions on Russian oil, Trump suggests

But Trump did appear to suggest he could reimpose some sanctions on Russian oil, though (or, technically speaking, let waivers expire).

Asked about the possibility of tightening sanctions on Russia, he said:

“Well, soon we’ll be able to do that because the oil is now flowing. So we put, we took sanctions off, because obviously we’re not looking to impede the oil, so we’re in a position to do that soon … at some point.”

Trump gets asked about his decision to stay a bit longer for a formal dinner hosted by the French president, Emmanuel Macron, at the Palace of Versailles on Wednesday night.

The dinner will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the US independence.

Trump says:

“I’m a fan of beautiful places, and… the French president, who happens to be a very nice man, invited me to dinner at Versailles … and Versailles is not a gold leaf, Versailles is the real deal.

And I said I’d like to do it, I mean, you know, all it means is that I get home later in the evening, meaning early in the morning, and I’m not a big sleeper anyway.”

We don’t get more on Ukraine, though.

Meanwhile, Trump is speaking to reporters again, after his meeting with the president of the UAE.

He is currently talking about the Middle East and Iran – we cover all of that on the Middle East blog - but I will pick up any lines on Ukraine and Europe.

Ukraine peace talks could start before summer, German foreign minister suggests

Meanwhile, the German foreign minister, Johann Wadephul, suggested that some talks on ending the Russian invasion of Ukraine could begin before summer.

German foreign minister Johann Wadephul seen at a meeting of EU foreign ministers yesterday. Photograph: Olivier Hoslet/EPA

Talking to RTL/NTV broadcasters, Wadephul said neither party appeared to have an upper hand on the battlefield, with the war effectively stuck.

“There is now a chance, ​I think, to begin talks this summer,” Wadephul was ⁠quoted as saying by Reuters.

Referring ​to ​Putin, he added: “He ​may now be ​at ‌a ​stage ​where he is seriously considering it.”

Zelenskyy also briefly talks about business and Ukraine’s postwar reconstruction, stressing the importance of international security guarantees to underpin that process.

Zelenskyy gets asked about China and if he would be prepared to speak to Xi to end the war with Russia.

He effectively says that yes and that he is ready to talk to whoever can help with ending the war.

Russia will find way to block EU accession if we don't proceed swiftly, Zelenskyy says

Zelenskyy also gets asked about his talks with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, and his idea of an associate membership of the EU.

He praises Merz and says he is clearly on Ukraine’s side and stresses that he knows that Ukraine is hopeful on getting some sort of fast track to the EU membership.

He says if that does not happen, Russia “will find a way to block Ukraine’s way to EU.” “They don’t want to see us successful,” he says.

He says Ukraine wants the same membership as other countries, “not better, but not worse.”

Separately, he posted on social media that the pair also discussed “defence support for Ukraine,” including on air defence.

Zelenskyy gets asked about Trump’s infamous comment from last year that Ukraine does not hold any cards.

He says that the situation on the battlefield is changing, with Russia increasingly struggling on the battlefield.

Despite the Kremlin’s denials (12:04), he repeats his claim that he had suggested inviting Putin to join the talks.

He calls for talks with Putin before this winter and says they should take place in a third country, like Switzerland, Turkey, the US, or one of the Middle East countries.

“It was terrible winter for us, and but … we don’t want to go through the same winter of course … and Russia has to know that we had terrible winter and they will have also not [a] simple [one]” this year, he says.

He confirms he discussed his proposals with Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich recently.

Trump 'very positive they can help us with missiles,' Zelenskyy says

Zelenskyy says that he needs the US president, Donald Trump, to put more pressure on Russia, as he says “Trump can do it, or only maybe only him.”

He says Trump was also “very positive that they can help us with missiles,” as Zelenskyy keeps pushing for a licence to Ukraine to produce Patriot missiles locally.

He says he “hopes it [will be] a yes.”

Zelenskyy also says he wants the EU to build a “European anti-ballistic system,” because “otherwise we will [all] not have enough.”