Emmanuel Macron and Volodymyr Zelensky were overheard discussing Donald Trump while strolling the grounds of the Hotel Royal during the G7 summit.
The French president mentioned a challenging meeting with Trump the day before regarding the Ukraine conflict, as he welcomed Zelensky to the Group of Seven summit in Evian-les-Bains, France.
Macron encouraged Zelensky to extend his stay at the summit, but Zelensky mentioned his upcoming meeting with European Union leaders in Brussels the following day.
There was a brief exchange about a potential meeting being organized, with Zelensky mentioning President Trump. Macron assured he would arrange it, as per the audio from their conversation.
The talks with Zelensky concluded swiftly after 75 minutes, where Zelensky emphasized Ukraine’s commitment to peace amidst Russia’s actions. He also highlighted the unanimous support for Ukraine from the G7 leaders.
The discussions included support for Ukraine’s request for more Patriot missiles and strategies to enhance production through licensing agreements to counter potential Russian threats.
G7 leaders, including Trump, agreed to intensify pressure on Russia, particularly through sanctions targeting its oil and natural gas sectors.
Following reduced US aid to Ukraine under Trump’s administration, France and other European allies have become key supporters of Kyiv in terms of military and financial assistance.
The G7 deliberated on resolving the conflict in Ukraine and is expected to address the Middle East crisis during the summit.
A signing ceremony for a deal between the US and Iran is set to take place at the Bürgenstock resort near Lucerne, as both countries have reached an initial agreement to extend a fragile ceasefire and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Challenges remain in ending the war, including the situation in Lebanon where Israeli strikes have led to significant casualties, as reported by the Lebanese Ministry of Health.