Donald Trump assured this Monday that both the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, and the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, are "open" to him playing a role in trying to move towards a negotiated solution to the war in Ukraine.

The statement came within the framework of the G7 summit held in Évian, France, following telephone conversations held with both leaders on Sunday. According to Trump, "We had a very good conversation yesterday with President Zelensky and President Putin, and I think maybe we can do something. I really do. They're both open to it."

The US president's statements come at a time when the war continues to cause serious humanitarian and military consequences. Trump suggested there is an opportunity to revive diplomatic efforts after his contacts with Moscow and kyiv, although he did not offer details on a concrete proposal or an eventual negotiating timetable.

The Ukrainian issue occupies a central place on the G7 agenda. Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to participate in a session dedicated to peace and security in Ukraine alongside the leaders of major industrialized economies, in a bid to coordinate Western support for kyiv and explore new diplomatic avenues.

For his part, French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his intention to persuade Washington to increase pressure on Russia. Likewise, he maintained that “good negotiation is for Ukraine and Russia to sit at the same table, with the Europeans and the Americans there,” defending a dialogue process supported by Western powers.

The war between Russia and Ukraine intensified on February 24, 2022, when Moscow launched a large-scale invasion of Ukrainian territory after months of concentration of troops on the border, although tensions between both countries date back to 2014, with the Russian annexation of Crimea and the outbreak of the conflict in the Donbas region. The fighting has since sparked one of the biggest security crises in Europe since World War II, with thousands of civilians killed or injured, millions displaced and extensive damage to Ukrainian infrastructure. Despite various attempts at mediation and negotiations promoted by international actors, a lasting peace agreement has not been reached and fighting continues on several fronts, while Western powers maintain their political, economic and military support for kyiv and Russia retains control of part of the occupied Ukrainian territory.