The G-7 expects to take advantage of Trump's optimism to make a move in Ukraine

BarcelonaThe leaders present at the G-7 summit being held in the French town of Évian-les-Bains this Tuesday will have a dual mission: unveil the details of the pact between the United States and Iran —and try to influence the Strait of Hormuz to reopen as soon as possible— and pressure the US president, Donald Trump, to give new impetus to the peace negotiations in Ukraine. The meeting brings together the leaders of France, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, along with the European Union, in an idyllic setting, with Lake Geneva as a backdrop. After the official reception on Monday, Tuesday is for political discussions.

Trump arrived in France on Monday in good spirits after sealing a preliminary agreement with Tehran to end the conflict, although the formal signing is scheduled for Friday. "The deal with Iran will bring a lot of success," Trump assured upon arrival. Now, European states hope that this optimism will extend to the Ukrainian front, and that Trump will want to hang another diplomatic medal by signing another peace agreement in front of his voters; if possible, with conditions less favorable to Moscow.

During the last few months, the conflict in Iran has pushed the one in Ukraine into the background. But on Monday, Trump said he had held "good conversations" with Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin on Sunday. "Now that this [Iran] is over, we will focus on that [Ukraine]," he stated at a bilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron this Monday.

Zelensky pushes to give momentum to talksKyiv advances in European integration

With negotiations stalled, Zelensky is pushing to give momentum to the talks and for European leaders, who are closer to his interests, to play a more important role. On Monday, he said he had offered to meet with Putin at the G-7 summit to negotiate an end to the war, which has been ongoing for four years, but that the Russian president was not willing to talk. For its part, Brussels insists that Kyiv is winning the war: "Ukraine is holding the front line and even partially regaining territory. Ukraine has developed the capacity to attack strategic targets inside Russia. And Ukraine has become a world-leading producer of cutting-edge military equipment," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told reporters in Évian.

EU Accession

To showcase Brussels' firm commitment to Kyiv, on Monday, negotiations for the accession of Ukraine and Moldova to the European Union officially opened. The process, which was reactivated thanks to the lifting of Hungary's veto, represents an "important step" for the expansion of the European bloc, pointed out Von der Leyen and the President of the European Council, António Costa. "It is a recognition of the determination, courage, and arduous work that both countries have shown in advancing reforms, despite the immense challenges".