European leaders plan to convince Trump to back new Ukraine peace talks at G7 summit

The United Kingdom, France, and Germany plan to use meetings with U.S. President Donald Trump at the G7 summit to secure his support for new peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.

This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing Bloomberg.

According to the agency’s sources, the countries of the so-called E3 group believe that the situation in the war has recently shifted in Ukraine’s favor. In their view, this creates an opportunity for negotiations that go beyond the approaches that took shape following Trump’s meeting with Putin in Alaska last year.

The E3 leaders are calling for an immediate ceasefire. They propose beginning negotiations on the basis of the current front line, as well as providing Ukraine with reliable security guarantees, including the possible deployment of multinational forces. These proposals were set out in a joint statement with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky following talks in London.

As Bloomberg notes, the E3 countries see an opportunity to restore a more significant European role in the negotiating process. This comes against the backdrop of U.S.-led talks having reached a deadlock and Washington increasingly focusing on its confrontation with Iran.

According to the agency’s sources, European leaders want Trump to endorse their proposals and increase pressure on Russia. If successful, this could open the way for new negotiations as early as next month, involving representatives from Europe, the United States, Ukraine, and Russia.

Bloomberg’s sources also reported that the United Kingdom and the European Union are working on a new package of sanctions against Russia that could be introduced within the coming weeks. The sources added, however, that these plans could still change.

Separately, European countries are seeking to prevent a repeat of last winter’s situation, when the Russian military carried out massive strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, leaving part of the population without electricity and heating.

Putin, for his part, rejects a ceasefire, arguing that it would allow Ukraine to rearm. He also refuses to accept the presence of European troops on Ukrainian territory. In addition, the Kremlin chief is demanding that Ukraine relinquish part of Donetsk region that Russian forces have not yet captured — something Kyiv rules out.