Hours after US-Iran memorandum of understanding, Trump set eyes on Russia-Ukraine war: “We can do this…” | Today’s news
US President Donald Trump used his meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday to signal a shift in focus on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, just hours after announcing a landmark US-Iran deal aimed at ending the Middle East war.
“The Iran deal that we made is going to be a great success for the world because oil was really clogged up there (Strait of Hormuz) for a while,” Trump said, adding that the deal helped stabilize global conditions.
Trump says Russia-Ukraine conflict may be next priority
Trump has indicated that with the Iranian crisis easing, Washington will now turn its attention to ending the war between Russia and Ukraine.
“Yesterday we had a very good conversation with President Zelensky and President Putin. I see that maybe we can do something. I think they are both open,” he said.
“So I think now that this (Iran crisis) is over, we’re going to focus on that and see if we can get it done,” Trump added.
Macron is pressing Russia with continued pressure from the West
French President Macron used the bilateral talks to highlight the need for continued Western support for Ukraine and continued pressure on Moscow.
Macron said he wanted the US to confirm: “We are with you, we will continue to support Ukraine and increase the pressure on Russia to achieve meaningful negotiations.
He added that any settlement must include all key stakeholders: “A proper negotiation is one where Ukraine and Russia are at the table, but also with the Europeans and the Americans present.”
Zelensky invited to the G7 discussions
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to attend G7 discussions on Tuesday, although direct talks with Trump remain unconfirmed.
Trump reportedly had separate phone calls with both Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin before the summit.
Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters that Trump had stressed the urgency of ending hostilities and expressed his willingness to help move negotiations forward, including at the G7 level.
The war in Ukraine remains an unresolved diplomatic challenge
Despite renewed diplomatic signalling, no concrete breakthrough in the war between Russia and Ukraine has been announced.
Zelenskyy reportedly proposed a joint meeting with Putin and Western leaders at the G7, but the Kremlin did not respond. There is an International Criminal Court warrant for Putin’s arrest, complicating any potential summit-level meeting.
Background to the G7 summit
The development comes as the G7 summit opens in Évian-les-Bains, where leaders of the world’s major economies are also assessing the implications of the US-Iran deal and broader global security shifts.
