Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Sunday he spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump about efforts to end the more than four-year war in Ukraine, as leaders prepare for a Group of Seven meeting in France this week.
Writing on Telegram, Zelenskiy said he congratulated Trump on his 80th birthday and expressed gratitude for continued U.S. support throughout the conflict. He said he wished Trump “every success” in efforts to bring an end to Russia’s war against Ukraine.
“I wished President Trump every success, first and foremost in his efforts to end Russia’s war against Ukraine,” Zelenskiy said.
Ahead of the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, where leaders of major industrialized nations are expected to discuss the war on Tuesday, Zelenskiy said he and Trump also reviewed the positions of international partners and possible pathways toward peace.
“We talked about what could help to bring peace closer right now, and I updated the president on the latest developments on the battlefield and how our position has strengthened,” he said. “We have some good ideas that could help bring peace closer.”
In a later address, Zelenskiy said both leaders had agreed to meet during the summit in France, underscoring continued coordination between Kyiv and Washington at a critical diplomatic moment.
He added that sustained U.S. backing remains essential for Ukraine’s security objectives alongside support from European allies.
“This is the most important thing we all want, and it’s important that American society fully supports this Ukrainian desire of ours, the desire for a decent peace,” he said.
U.S.-led efforts to advance peace talks have stalled in recent months as Washington has shifted focus to tensions in the Middle East, particularly the conflict involving Iran.
Despite the diplomatic impasse, Zelenskiy has said recent battlefield developments have created what he views as a potential opening for renewed negotiations.
In an open letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this month, Zelenskiy called for direct talks to pursue a ceasefire. European leaders, including those from Britain, France and Germany, signaled support for the initiative after discussions with Zelenskiy in London last weekend.
Putin has rejected the prospect of meeting Zelenskiy, saying Russian forces maintain momentum on the battlefield and reiterating demands that Ukraine cede additional territory as part of any peace settlement, a condition Kyiv has firmly dismissed.
Zelenskiy thanked the United States for military assistance, highlighting the provision of Javelin anti-tank missiles and Patriot air defense systems. He has also recently urged Washington to increase deliveries of Patriot systems, which Ukraine considers critical for countering Russian ballistic missile strikes.
