The G-7 pressures Putin to accept negotiating peace in Ukraine

Évian-les-Bains (France)If there is one thing the G-7 countries agree on, it is that the pact between the United States and Iran to end the conflict could provide a boost for peace in Ukraine. With the war in Iran, that of Ukraine had taken a back seat. But now, with the Middle East conflict on track – albeit with a fragile agreement – the wind is blowing in the right direction. At the summit gathering the seven major world powers – France, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United States – in the French city of Évian-les-Bains until this Wednesday, the G-7 leaders have united to redouble pressure on Russia to sit down and negotiate peace. "Russia should reach an agreement," warned US President Donald Trump.

With oil prices falling amid the prospect of fully reopening the Strait of Hormuz, the United States is considering reinstating sanctions on Russian oil. "We will be able to do so because oil is now flowing abundantly," Trump assured after meeting with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, who was invited to Évian this Tuesday. The European Union is also considering increasing sanctions on Russian gas and oil now that Hormuz will be navigable again.

In favor of Ukraine is not only the end of the conflict in Iran. Also the weakness that Russian troops are showing, unable to advance the front line. "Trump has understood that the Ukrainians are the winners and Putin, the loser", diplomatic sources have highlighted without mincing words.

Favorable dynamic

According to the same sources, during the meeting "all countries have recognized that the dynamics of the war are favorable to Ukraine" and it is the right moment to pressure the Russian president, Vladimir Putin. "The wind is changing for Ukraine. The situation in 2026 is very different from that in 2025. Ukraine is bravely holding the front line," wrote the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in a tweet.

In fact, Europe is confident that Trump's good humor and optimism after reaching an agreement with Iran will facilitate his efforts to end the war in Ukraine. The American president needs to claim other diplomatic victories because the conflict with Iran has been highly questioned inside and outside the US. Also the agreement itself, whose details are not yet known. It is scheduled to be signed this Friday in Switzerland and then, as Trump said, its content will be made public. Also from Friday, Washington and Tehran will return to the negotiating table to discuss the second part of the agreement, which includes the most thorny issues.

According to Donald Trump, thanks to the agreement, Iran "will never have nuclear weapons again." In his usual hyperbolic rhetoric, he has threatened Tehran that "hell will break loose" if they try to obtain them in the future. The American president has also promised that the Strait of Hormuz will fully reopen on Friday without tolls, an issue questioned by the Iranian regime, which plans to impose some type of naval tax.

Bombings in Lebanon

Trump has downplayed the bombings that Israel continues to carry out in Lebanon, which could jeopardize the peace agreement with Iran. For the Republican, the bombs that continue to fall are a "minor" issue and he has denied that they pose a problem for the pact with Tehran. Israel – its government has made it very clear – has no intention of withdrawing from Lebanon.

However, Donald Trump has hinted at the tensions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whom he has humiliated for his inability to finish off Hezbollah while causing civilian casualties, while praising the President of Syria, Ahmad al-Sharaa. Netanyahu "has been fighting Hezbollah for too long" and causes "too many" civilian casualties, Trump told him. "You can't destroy an entire building every time you're looking for one person, because there are a lot of people living there," he reproached him. For the Republican millionaire, Al-Sharaa "is doing an incredible job" against Hezbollah. "If Israel can't do the job without killing everyone, Syria will do it," he warned.

This Wednesday will mark the third and final day of the G-7 summit, and leaders are expected to submit to press questions. In the afternoon, the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, and Donald Trump will travel to Versailles to hold a dinner to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States.

Gift for Trump

The summit has left some anecdotes, such as the German national football team's jersey that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz gave to Donald Trump with the inscription "Trump 47" on the back, alluding to the fact that Trump is the 47th president of the United States. "Happy 80th birthday, a little late. After all, we are on the same team," Merz wrote on X. Trump received it with a brief smile but without much enthusiasm. It is no secret that the Republican is not a big fan of this sport. The G-7 in Evian was held coinciding with the first days of the Football World Cup. This evening, the French team debuted while Macron presided over the summit dinner.