US President says attention will now turn to ending the Russia-Ukraine war after what he called a breakthrough agreement with Iran….reports Asian Lite News Desk
US President Donald Trump said on Monday that his administration would shift its diplomatic focus to the Russia-Ukraine conflict following what he described as a breakthrough agreement with Iran, expressing hope that both Moscow and Kyiv could be willing to negotiate an end to the war.
Speaking alongside French President Emmanuel Macron during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Evian, Trump said he had recently held separate conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and believed there was an opportunity to advance diplomatic efforts.
“I had two very good conversations yesterday,” Trump said. “Now that this is finished, we’re going to be focusing on that, see if we can get that one done.”
Referring to the war in Ukraine, he added: “I think they’re both open to it.”
Trump said the continuing human toll of the conflict remained a major concern, citing the large number of casualties being suffered each month.
“25,000 people a month are dying, mostly soldiers, and that shouldn’t happen,” he said.
Macron indicated that Ukraine would feature prominently on the agenda at the G7 Summit and confirmed that Zelenskyy would participate in discussions with world leaders.
“We will have the occasion to discuss the war in Ukraine in order to engage together and negotiate a good and solid peace and sustainable peace, and President Zelensky will be with us as well tomorrow,” Macron said.
The remarks came as leaders of the Group of Seven nations gathered in France for talks covering security, trade, energy and broader geopolitical challenges.
While discussions between Trump and Macron focused significantly on the newly signed Iran agreement, both leaders suggested that diplomatic attention would increasingly turn towards efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
Macron described the Iran accord as “a very important agreement” and said it represented a positive step towards international stability.
Trump argued that the deal had already begun easing tensions in the Middle East, including helping to restore maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
“The deal is all signed, and the Strait is already partially opened,” he said. “Ships are starting to go out now. On Friday, it’ll be completely opened.”
According to Trump, progress on Iran would allow Washington to devote greater diplomatic resources to other international crises, particularly Ukraine.
“We had a very good conversation yesterday with President Zelensky and President Putin, and I see maybe we can do something there, I really do,” he said.
Macron added that G7 leaders would also discuss critical minerals, trade and other strategic issues during the summit as member nations seek closer coordination on key global challenges.
