US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he remains engaged in efforts to bring an end to the Russia-Ukraine conflict and revealed that he recently held “very good talks” with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Speaking during a bilateral interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Évian, France, Trump said tensions between Moscow and Kyiv had made negotiations more difficult, even as he expressed hope that the war could eventually be brought to an end.

Trump Says Talks Held With Putin and Zelenskyy

Responding to a question on whether diplomatic developments in West Asia could help create momentum for peace in Ukraine, Trump said he had recently spoken with both leaders and was continuing efforts to end the conflict.

“I had very good talks with President Zelenskyy and with President Putin. And we’d like to see that one end. I ended eight wars, and to be honest with you, I thought this would have been one of the easier ones, but they’re not liking each other too much, and that makes it much more difficult,” Trump said.

The US President suggested that strained relations between the two sides had complicated the search for a negotiated settlement.

He also reiterated his claim that he had ended eight conflicts, while expressing surprise that the Russia-Ukraine war had proven more challenging than expected.

Sanctions and Oil Prices Under Review

Asked about the possibility of imposing fresh sanctions on Russia, Trump said the United States was continuing to assess the situation and pointed to falling oil prices as an important factor.

“We are looking at that. We are seeing how far the price of oil comes down; it’s really tumbling… It’s down, it’s soon going to be at the number that was four months ago,” he said.

His remarks came as G7 leaders pledged to intensify economic pressure on Russia through additional sanctions targeting the country’s oil and gas sectors.

G7 Reaffirms Support for Ukraine

Earlier, the leaders of the Group of Seven issued a joint declaration reiterating their support for Ukraine and announcing further assistance to strengthen Kyiv’s defence capabilities.

“We, the Heads of State and Government of the G7, stand united in our unwavering support for Ukraine as it defends its freedom, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. We reaffirm our solidarity with the Ukrainian people, whose vital infrastructure and cultural heritage are under attack. We commend Ukraine for its resilience and the progress it has made on the front lines in recent months, and we emphasize that there is now renewed momentum,” the statement said.

The G7 countries agreed to provide additional air defence systems, interceptors and long-range ammunition while facilitating licences to boost Ukraine’s domestic military production.

The leaders also pledged further support to strengthen Ukraine’s energy security ahead of the winter season and announced plans to tighten sanctions on Russia’s oil and gas industries.

Welcoming the announcement of a peace agreement between the United States and Iran, the G7 leaders also expressed their determination to pursue efforts aimed at ending the war between Russia and Ukraine.

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