One of the key topics of the three-day G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains on the shores of Lake Geneva was Ukraine. US President Donald Trump arrived in France on June 15 - the day after his 80th birthday and a few hours after the announcement of a deal with Iran - and promised to once again focus closely on the Russian-Ukrainian settlement. He wasted no time in fulfilling his promise, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also arrived in Evian-les-Bains. The meeting between the two leaders was positive. Trump's words suggested that he was now confident that the ball was in Russia's court. There was no doubt about the position of the other G7 members. US President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and US Ambassador to Ukraine Charles Kuschner on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, June 16, 2026. Photo: Thibault Camus / EPA Eastern France, June 15, 2026. "This should not be happening" Donald Trump arrived in France on Monday evening, June 15, in high spirits: he had celebrated his birthday the day before and announced a deal with Tehran. The signing of the relevant memorandum is scheduled for Friday, June 19. "The Iran deal will be a great success," Trump told reporters immediately upon arrival on the European continent. Later, meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, Trump promised to redirect freed-up forces to the Russian-Ukrainian settlement - to the very war he had promised to end in 24 hours in 2024. "Now that this [Iranian conflict. - Ed.] is over, we will deal with this [Russian-Ukrainian war. - Ed.] and see if we can get it done," said the White House head, sitting next to Macron. "25,000 people die a month, mostly soldiers. This should not be happening." Trump also said that on June 14, he had two "very good" phone conversations - with Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin - "and maybe we can do something." In Washington, the role of the US president is described without false modesty. "It turns out that the only person on the planet who can bring the two sides [Russia and Ukraine. - Ed.] together and try to negotiate an end to this war is President Trump," an unnamed senior US official assured Politico. The question of how exactly and on what terms the matter could be "brought to an end" became key on June 16 at the working session "Building Peace and Security for Ukraine and Europe," held as part of the G7 summit. The leaders of the "seven" and Volodymyr Zelensky participated in the discussion. Before that, Donald Trump, Emmanuel Macron, and Volodymyr Zelensky held a trilateral meeting. The Guardian correspondent reported that most of the G7 leaders had to wait nearly an hour in the meeting room. They were periodically informed that the working session was about to begin, but Trump, Macron, and Zelensky were not yet there. "These unusual scenes show only one thing: despite all the combined power of the G7, the summit is essentially focused around one person - US President Donald Trump - and his positions on the key issues of the day," The Guardian noted. In the end, the wait paid off: the presidents of France, the US, and Ukraine entered the hall and joined the other leaders. In addition, on June 16, Trump and Zelensky met in a bilateral format. "It is always important to coordinate positions," Volodymyr Zelensky briefly captioned photos from the meeting. Following the conversation, he shared some details - in particular, he said that he discussed the possibility of obtaining licenses from the US for the production of anti-ballistic systems and missiles. And President Trump said the meeting was "very good." United and Productive What happened in Evian was a stark contrast to events 12 months ago. At the previous G7 summit in Alberta, Canada, the situation did not go as planned. Initially, it was assumed that the discussion of a just and long-term peace for Ukraine would be one of the key topics of the summit, but it was overshadowed by Israel's operation against Iran. Unexpectedly for everyone, Trump left for Washington at the end of the first working day. This led, among other things, to the cancellation of his planned meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky. All planned meetings took place within the framework of the French summit, albeit in a slightly different atmosphere. Now, a number of G7 participants are concerned not about Trump's withdrawal from the game, but about his return. As Politico wrote, in private conversations, European officials express fears that "freed from the daily burden of the Iranian crisis, the US president may try to 're-take control of peace talks on Ukraine, push Europeans into the background, and disrupt their strategy based on maximum pressure on Russia and full support for Ukraine." "The fact that Trump was distracted [from the Ukrainian issue. - Ed.] is not necessarily bad," admitted one European diplomat on condition of anonymity. US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron during a working meeting at the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, June 16, 2026. Photo: Thibault Camus / EPA. Meanwhile, an unnamed source close to Macron, speaking to journalists, lowered expectations for the three-day diplomatic marathon in Evian-les-Bains in advance, noting: "It is important that other G7 countries, and especially the United States, do not weaken their position on Ukraine." Emmanuel Macron formulated Europe's logic on TF1 television: "Proper negotiations are when Ukraine and Russia sit at the table, and Europeans and Americans are nearby." One of the unstated goals of the summit, ending on June 17, for Kyiv and Brussels is to secure US support for a unified negotiating position. Europeans formulated the fundamental conditions for a possible peaceful settlement in advance. On June 7, the leaders of Great Britain, France, and Germany, along with Volodymyr Zelensky, enshrined "five principles" in a joint statement: an immediate and complete ceasefire; the front line as the starting point for negotiations and the inadmissibility of changing borders by force; legally binding security guarantees with the deployment of multinational forces; freezing of Russian assets until reparations are paid; consideration of European security interests, for which decisions require the consent of the EU and NATO. Figures are Brussels' best argument in the discussion about the need to be at the negotiating table. According to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, €90 billion from the European Union covers two-thirds of Kyiv's financial needs for this and next year, and only "the remaining third requires partners" (von der Leyen urged G7 summit participants to discuss this topic). US President Donald Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrive at the Royal Hotel during the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, June 16, 2026. Photo: Thibault Camus / EPA. The number 21 also looks impressive - this is the number of sanctions packages that Brussels is preparing (and is already introducing in stages). The package includes expanded restrictions in the energy, financial services, crypto-assets, and trade sectors, increased pressure on critical infrastructure (including ports, airports, and oil refineries in any way related to Russian oil), the addition of vessels of Russia's shadow fleet, as well as individuals and legal entities to the sanctions lists. In addition, the European Commission proposes to maintain the current "price cap" on Russian oil until January 2027, which helps to curb Russia's oil and gas revenues. The effect of such pressure is increasing: according to EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, sanctions have already cost the Russian economy between €1 trillion and €1.3 trillion. Directly during the G7 summit, the UK announced new sanctions - they are primarily aimed at Russia's shadow fleet. In addition, financial structures that help circumvent sanctions and provide supplies for the Russian army have come under restrictions. After meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also announced new sanctions. The restrictive measures are aimed against Russia's shadow fleet, oil and gas revenues, the defense industrial complex, and individuals spreading disinformation. These decisions were in line with the G7's united position: as a French diplomatic source told AFP and Reuters, summit participants, during "very productive" discussions, agreed to be united in supporting Ukraine, continue providing aid (in particular, air defense systems), and increase pressure on Russia. Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed: everyone in the G7 believes that "Putin does not want to end [the war], but he must be forced to do so - primarily through sanctions." US President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a working meeting at the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, June 16, 2026. Photo: Thibault Camus / EPA. "Russia must reach an agreement." While in France, the Ukrainian delegation took the opportunity to once again demonstrate to Trump who is actually blocking the peace process (for the other leaders, the answer was already obvious). Thus, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga, during a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the summit, informed him about Russian strikes on the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra and other civilian, cultural, and historical sites. "They demonstrate that Moscow is waging war against faith, heritage, and Ukrainian identity," the diplomat emphasized. Minister Sybiga also told Rubio about the recent successes of the Ukrainian military at the front and the need for further sanctions pressure on Russia. "We see growing momentum for peace through strength and rely on decisive US leadership and engagement," Sybiga concluded. Meanwhile, on June 15, Volodymyr Zelensky pulled a trump card: he said that the Ukrainian side had offered Volodymyr Putin "to meet anywhere where real decisions to end the war could be made." "We discussed with the US and France the possibility of meeting with Russia on the sidelines of the G7 summit - with the participation of all democratic states. Putin does not want this," the Ukrainian leader stated. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio before the start of a working session at the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, June 16, 2026. Photo: Thibault Camus / EPA. Another option - the possibility of a meeting on American territory - Zelensky discussed on June 14 during a phone call with Trump. In such a format, the Ukrainian leader is confident, "it would be much harder for Putin to refuse, at least to President Trump." "Let's see what comes of it. If Russia rejects this possibility as well, additional pressure will be required," the president summarized. After meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky, Donald Trump made it clear that he had generally listened to his interlocutor's arguments. The White House head said that Russia "must reach an agreement." This implies that Trump does not doubt Kyiv's readiness for a deal. At least, as of the current moment (as Novaya Gazeta Europe has repeatedly written, the Republican president's position regularly fluctuates like a pendulum). Soon, Moscow will have an opportunity to give this pendulum a reverse impulse. In the near future, as expected, Trump's special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will visit the Russian capital after a six-month break. This visit, the exact date of which has not yet been determined, was agreed upon during a conversation between Putin and Trump on June 14. The Kremlin is now actively sending signals to Washington that it still considers the Trump administration the most constructive player. "Donald Trump again emphasized the need to stop military actions. He stated that he is ready to influence both European partners and Kyiv, including during contacts at the G7 summit," Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov told journalists about the conversation between Putin and Trump. However, according to Ushakov, Europeans and Volodymyr Zelensky are only set on "dragging out the conflict and continuing hostilities." Otherwise, Dmitry Peskov, press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation, added, the President of Ukraine would have come to Moscow long ago for a "responsible and serious conversation."