Ukrainian analyst on possible Zelenskyy-Trump meeting: Don't expect major breakthroughs
Photo: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump (Getty Images)
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US leader Donald Trump are expected to meet during the G7 summit, which began yesterday in Canada. However, a major breakthrough from these talks is unlikely, said political analyst Volodymyr Fesenko in a comment to RBC-Ukraine's YouTube channel.
"It is expected that Zelenskyy and Trump may meet on the sidelines of the G7. I don't expect any significant breakthroughs. The main goal for us is to convey our position. But it's crucial to strike the right tone and choose the right approach when speaking with Trump. That was achieved in Rome during Pope Francis's funeral. The same needs to happen now: to deliver the real picture of Russia's war against us, the ongoing escalation, and how Putin is violating previous agreements, particularly with the strikes on energy infrastructure," Fesenko said.
At the same time, he noted that Ukraine should not apply direct pressure on Trump, especially regarding sanctions.
According to the political analyst, the G7 summit is also crucial in terms of shaping a collective Western stance on the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel.
"Trump liked Putin's proposal to mediate, while Macron was critical of it. But how should the West act? Who will be the mediator? Will there be pressure on Iran, or will the West pressure Israel and push both sides toward negotiations? We don't know yet. Perhaps a joint position will emerge among Western nations during this summit. It is also important for us to coordinate our negotiating positions," he noted.
Fesenko emphasized that the negotiation process between Ukraine and Russia has reached a deadlock, and it's time for Ukraine's partners - primarily Trump and the US administration - to decide what to do next.
"But so far, I don't see any clear prerequisites for decisive action from Trump. Trump is clearly stalling. I don't know whether it's related to age or to conflicts between different factions in his administration. By the way, Trump had a birthday two days ago - I hope that maybe it had a positive effect. Maybe he's still in a good mood after his birthday. If he's tired or irritated, that's a worse scenario. Trump's mood right now is a real political factor,' the analyst added.
Trump-Zelenskyy meeting
According to media reports, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump will meet during the G7 summit. Their last meeting took place during the funeral of Pope Francis in April.
The 51st summit will take place from Sunday to Tuesday (June 15-17) in the remote resort town of Kananaskis in the western province of Alberta (Canada).
For more details on what to expect from the G7 summit, see the material by RBC-Ukraine.
