Story perspectives

Zelensky Urges Putin Talks; Trump Demands Russian Deal at G7

6/18/2026

Summary

Story summary

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met President Donald Trump at the G7 summit, urging talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
President Donald Trump told the G7 Russia must make a deal and called the death toll ‘ridiculous,’ while European leaders urged him to adopt terms for Ukraine.
After the summit, Zelensky phoned President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron, thanked Trump and discussed U.S. licenses for missile production.

History

Historical Context

In 1994 Ukraine surrendered its Soviet nuclear arsenal under the Budapest Memorandum, receiving security assurances from the United States, the United Kingdom and Russia. Subsequent Russian actions—its 2008 invasion of Georgia, the 2014 annexation of Crimea and the 2022 full-scale invasion—have been cited by President Zelensky and G7 leaders as a breach of those guarantees.

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Story summary

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met President Donald Trump at the G7 summit, urging talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
President Donald Trump told the G7 Russia must make a deal and called the death toll ‘ridiculous,’ while European leaders urged him to adopt terms for Ukraine.
After the summit, Zelensky phoned President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron, thanked Trump and discussed U.S. licenses for missile production.

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