Trump Shifts Ukraine Focus to Russia Deal After Iran Agreement at G7
President Trump announced renewed focus on ending the Ukraine conflict, citing 35,000 soldiers killed last month and stating Russia must pursue diplomacy given the enormous human toll.
Speaking at a G7 bilateral meeting with the Emir of Qatar on Tuesday morning in the French spa town of Evian, Trump revealed he had held pull-aside talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier that day, according to Breitbart News. The impromptu discussions delayed the main multilateral G7 leaders’ talks by nearly an hour, leaving other world leaders waiting as Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Zelensky met privately.
The American president disclosed staggering casualty figures from the ongoing conflict, stating that last month alone saw 35,000 soldiers killed between Russian and Ukrainian forces. Trump emphasized that the monthly average stands at roughly 25,000 people, describing them as young, beautiful people whose lives are being lost in the grinding war.
Trump characterized his morning session with Zelensky as productive and confirmed another bilateral meeting was scheduled for later in the day. Addressing Russia’s position, the president was direct in his assessment that Moscow should pursue a diplomatic resolution given the enormous human cost the nation has sustained.
The president also noted recent communications with Russian President Vladimir Putin, acknowledging significant personal animosity between the Russian and Ukrainian leaders that would need to be overcome to achieve any lasting settlement.
With the Iran situation now stabilized following recent military action, Trump indicated his administration would pivot back to prioritizing the Ukraine conflict, stating the Iran matter would now be in the rear view mirror.
Zelensky took to social media Tuesday afternoon to express gratitude to G7 leaders for what he termed strong ideas on compelling Russia toward peace. The Ukrainian president outlined his requirements, including additional air defense missiles and a winter support package, while insisting that Russia must understand its war will never be normalized.
Russia, which was expelled from what was then the G8 in 2014, is not participating in the current summit. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded to suggestions of potential Putin-Zelensky talks with a sardonic proposal that such meetings could be held in Moscow.
With information from Breitbart News
