Zelensky Says Putin Rejected G7 Peace Talks Offer

President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday that Ukraine had proposed a high-level meeting with Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the G7 summit to discuss ending the war, but Moscow rejected the offer.

“We offered Putin a meeting anywhere real decisions to end the war could be made. He does not want it,” Zelensky wrote on X after his intervention at the EU Intergovernmental Conference.

Europeans plus America

Zelensky said Kyiv had discussed with the US and France the possibility of organizing a meeting with Russia around the G7, “with all democratic nations represented.” He said Putin did not want that format either.

President Zelensky had earlier proposed meeting Putin on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France, where US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron were expected to be present. According to the Ukrainian leader, the format would have brought together “Europeans plus America” and created a stronger diplomatic setting for talks.

Can Trump do it?

Zelensky also said he discussed with Trump on Sunday the possibility of organizing such a meeting in the US, in a format where Putin would find it “much harder to refuse” the American president.

“We will see what comes of it. If Russia refuses this chance as well, additional pressure will be needed,” Zelensky said.

The comments came after Trump held separate conversations with both Putin and Zelensky on Sunday. The Kremlin was quoted as saying Trump told Putin that ending hostilities was vital and that he was ready to work with European partners and Kyiv, including through talks around the G7 summit.

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EU Opens 1st Negotiation Cluster for Ukraine, Moldova, Zelensky: ‘Progress Cannot Be Stopped’

EU governments have unanimously agreed to launch “Fundamentals” cluster negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, formally starting detailed negotiations on democracy, rule of law and core European values after more than a decade of Ukrainian aspiration. President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the step as a clear sign that the progress is irreversible and that Ukrainian and Moldovan reforms are being taken seriously.

Kyiv Post earlier reported that Zelensky and Trump had agreed to meet during the G7 gathering in Evian-les-Bains, with the Ukrainian leader saying it was important to secure US support for Ukraine’s peace efforts alongside European allies.