After the Iran agreement, the G7 summit is also looking for a way out of the Ukraine war. But Putin remains tough – which is why the big seven are pushing for new sanctions against Russia.
June 17, 2026, 04:59June 17, 2026, 05:48
US President Donald Trump (right) reluctantly talks to Zelensky.Image: keystone
It would have been too nice. Contact between Russia and Ukraine after the framework agreement with Iran? For this purpose, Emmanuel Macron, as host of the G7 summit, also invited Ukrainian President Zelensky to Evian-les-Bains.
On Tuesday morning he personally led the special guest from Kiev into the meeting of the highest representatives of the seven major industrial nations: the USA, Germany, France, Great Britain, Italy, Canada and Japan.
The mood was relaxed, greetings alternated with hugs, jokes with football predictions. Only two of those present did not find each other: US President Donald Trump made no move to even greet Zelensky. It was obvious: the 80-year-old American initially gave the Ukrainian, who politely remained in the background, the cold shoulder. Macron, who had placed Trump at the round table to his right and Zelenskyj to his left, also seemed to have his diplomatic wits down for once.
The 47th US President Donald Trump (right) proudly presents his new Germany jersey, which Chancellor Friedrich Merz brought him to Evian.Image: keystone
With this behavior, Trump actually made everything clear: Ukraine cannot rely more on the USA. Trump had spoken to Zelensky on the phone on Monday. The Ukrainian suggested a personal meeting with Russian President and war leader Vladimir Putin. “In a format that would make it much more difficult for Putin to refuse,” the Ukrainian reportedly said.
Trump, who also spoke on the phone with Putin, described the talks as “very good” and added that the two warring heads of state were “open.” “Russia should make a deal,” Trump continued. “I have solved eight wars, and this one seemed to be the easiest to solve.”
Kremlin mockery for the Ukrainian president
This is how you can be wrong. Trump once again refused to accept reality – that is, the Kremlin ruler’s hard line. He regretted that 25,000 soldiers died in the war every month – but he did not want to place the blame on Putin. Its spokesman confirmed on Tuesday that there were no official contacts between Russia and Ukraine. To add condescendingly: “Zelenskyj can always come to Moscow if he wants to negotiate responsibly and seriously.”
He has proven enough that Putin does not want to negotiate responsibly or seriously. Zelenskyj therefore declared in Evian: “Russia must be forced to end the war against our people.” After the Russian missile attack on the cathedral at the famous Cave Monastery in Kiev, the Ukrainian Air Force used drones to attack Russian oil refineries. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin claimed that his country shot down 60 Ukrainian drones. Zelensky, however, published a video of a burning oil refinery.
A spokesman for German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the dynamics in the theater of war had changed since Ukraine had gained a “position of strength.” “For the first time, a window for diplomacy can slowly open here,” Merz explained before his departure to Evian.
However, this window also remained closed in Evian. After intensive negotiations led by host Macron, the G7 countries agreed on new sanctions against Russia on Tuesday evening.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also tried to increase the pressure on the Kremlin. His government announced new sanctions against 70 recipients, including organizers of the Russian shadow fleet. British troops captured one of these tankers in the English Channel on Sunday. Starmer also announced that his country would supply enriched uranium to Ukraine to support its nuclear power plants. (schweiztoday.ch)