Zelenskyy-Trump talks may pave way for significant changes
Presidents of Ukraine and the US, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump (Photo: Getty Images)
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke about a phone conversation with US leader Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron, which could change a lot, according to the president's press service on Telegram.
"It was an important coordination call that can bring about significant change. We reviewed the outcomes of our talks at the G7 Summit," Zelenskyy wrote, but did not provide details regarding the likely announced changes.
The president also thanked Trump for his attention to Ukraine and his readiness to help bring peace closer, which, as the head of state claims, everyone is working to achieve.
Regarding Macron, Zelenskyy also expressed gratitude to him. Specifically, the president thanked the French leader for organising the G7 summit and for consistently strong joint work.
"We are working to strengthen Ukraine, our cooperation, and diplomatic prospects. We need peace. And we are doing everything to bring it closer," Zelenskyy added.
G7 Summit
As is known, the G7 summit took place in the French resort town of Évian-les-Bains on June 15-17.
On Tuesday, June 16, on the sidelines of the summit, Zelenskyy and Trump met. The leaders discussed Ukraine's request for licenses to produce anti-ballistic missiles.
The meeting was also attended by Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov (head of the Ukrainian negotiating group) and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (who currently combines his position with the duties of National Security Advisor).
The American leader called the meeting very good and publicly stated that Russia must sign a peace agreement, as both sides have already lost a huge number of people.
Trump also hinted that after concluding a peace agreement with Iran and unblocking the Strait of Hormuz, the US may soon reimpose tough sanctions on Russian oil supplies.
In turn, European countries at the summit became the locomotive in dialogue with Trump on Ukraine. Politicians among the G7 emphasise that there is currently a common consensus in both Europe and the US: Russia cannot win on the battlefield.
When Zelenskyy and Trump last met
The last time Zelenskyy and Trump met in person was in January 2026 on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos. The talks lasted about an hour, after which the US president said the meeting was "good" and the war "must end."
Since then, the presidents have not held any new face-to-face meetings. However, on June 14, 2026, they had a phone conversation during which they agreed to continue discussions at the G7 summit.
Earlier, negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow, mediated by Washington, were put on pause because the US temporarily shifted its focus to the military conflict against Iran.
After the end of the active phase in the Middle East and announcements of a peace agreement with Tehran, the White House has returned to the issue of the Russian-Ukrainian war.
Trump's phone calls with Zelenskyy and Putin
On the eve of the summit, June 15, US President Donald Trump stated that after resolving the Iranian crisis, he intends to refocus on the Russian-Ukrainian war.
According to him, he held very good phone conversations with the President of Ukraine and the Russian dictator, and believes that both sides are open to ending the war.
After his conversation with Trump, Zelenskyy reported that the parties discussed in detail the issue of peace, the situation on the front, and agreed on an in-person meeting during the G7 summit on June 15-17. The President of Ukraine also stated that he has several ideas that could help bring peace closer and save lives.
At the same time, Trump also held a phone conversation with Putin. A Kremlin aide, Yuri Ushakov, claimed that the US president had allegedly expressed readiness to influence Kyiv and European allies.
Zelenskyy's letter to Putin and proposal for a meeting
Earlier, the President of Ukraine proposed organising an in-person meeting with Putin with the participation of the American leader, noting that such a format could make it more difficult for the Russian side to refuse negotiations. According to Zelenskyy, in the event of Russia's refusal, increased international pressure would be needed.
As RBC-Ukraine sources reported, Kyiv also proposed holding a meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin on the sidelines of the G7 summit with the participation of leaders of the Group of Seven countries, including the US president. However, no clear response came from Moscow, and the Kremlin instead suggested that the Ukrainian president come to Moscow.
Furthermore, on June 4, Zelenskyy sent a letter to Putin proposing an in-person meeting to discuss ways to end the war and emphasized the need for US and European participation in the negotiation process.
Trump then supported the idea of a bilateral meeting, while Russian leader Putin said he saw no point in it.
Earlier, the Financial Times reported that in May, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met in Kyiv with Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich.
According to RBC-Ukraine, the visit was initiated by the Russian side, and the businessman was meant to convey Ukraine's position to Moscow.
According to the edition's source, Ukraine is ready to use any communication channels that could help bring peace closer. However, in the source's view, Putin's position remains unchanged, and he shows no readiness to end the war.
