Zelensky arrives at G7 summit in Evian as leaders push Trump to strengthen support for Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was welcomed by French President Emmanuel Macron at the G7 summit in Evian on Tuesday. Six of the seven G7 leaders hope to persuade Donald Trump to step up aid as talks open on reviving peace negotiations with Russia.
Arrival at Lake Geneva
Volodymyr Zelensky arrived on Tuesday morning at the Hôtel Royal in Evian, on the shores of Lake Geneva, where the G7 summit opened the evening before. He was greeted by Emmanuel Macron in the hotel gardens before joining the other leaders for talks. The summit brings together the seven industrialised nations and Ukraine, making eight heads of state and government at the table.
Persuading the White House
Six of the seven G7 leaders want to convince US President Donald Trump to bolster support for Ukraine against Russia, according to AFP journalists covering the summit. The discussions are expected to focus on concrete steps to revive negotiations with Vladimir Putin to end the war. Zelensky arrived explicitly seeking a reinforced commitment from Washington.
Swiss diplomatic bridge
Before travelling to Evian, Zelensky met Swiss President Guy Parmelin in Geneva on Monday evening. After their bilateral, the Ukrainian leader posted on X that he had "remercié la Suisse pour tout le soutien qu'elle nous a apporté et, en particulier, pour sa disponibilité à aider à rapprocher la paix."
I thanked Switzerland for all the support it has given us and, in particular, for its willingness to help bring peace closer.
The road to negotiations
The working sessions will centre on re-opening channels with Moscow. No formal agenda has been released, but the presence of Zelensky and the stated aim of bringing Putin back to the table signal that diplomacy is the summit's main axis. The Swiss-hosted pre-summit meeting suggests that neutral ground may also play a role in any future talks.
