Zelenskyy at G7 Summit: Peace Talks Revival in Focus
Poinews.com – Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine’s president, is set to participate in the G7 summit to explore pathways for reinvigorating peace discussions with Russia. The summit, held in Évian, France, comes amid a strategic shift in U.S. diplomacy, as Donald Trump announced his country would refocus efforts on Ukraine after finalizing a framework agreement with Iran.
Drone Attacks Target Russian Infrastructure
As Zelenskyy arrived in Évian, Moscow faced a series of drone strikes that ignited a fire at a major oil refinery located approximately 15 kilometers from the Kremlin. The incident prompted temporary flight restrictions at four key airports, including Domodedovo and Sheremetyevo. The refinery, situated in the Kapotnya district, supplies over a third of the capital’s fuel, including aviation kerosene, and processes 11–12 million tonnes of crude annually into 30 petroleum products.
A separate overnight attack targeted an oil depot in Krasnodar Krai, a region critical to Russia’s Black Sea coastline operations. These strikes highlight the growing drone capabilities of Ukraine’s military, intensifying pressure on Moscow’s war economy.
Sanctions Divide Transatlantic Alliance
Emmanuel Macron, host of the summit, greeted Zelenskyy outside the hotel as the event began. The summit also revealed a rift between the U.S. and European Union on sanctions against Russia. While the EU has intensified economic measures, aiming to weaken Moscow’s war efforts, the U.S. under Trump has issued three consecutive waivers on Russian oil imports to mitigate global supply disruptions caused by the Hormuz Strait closure.
“Our sanctions keep biting hard and cutting deep,” said Ursula von der Leyen, emphasizing the EU’s resolve to cripple Russia’s financial foundation. However, the bloc’s full ban on Russian maritime services for tankers remains pending a G7 consensus, stalled by objections from Greece and Malta.
Peace Talks and Military Priorities
Zelenskyy’s participation underscores his push for renewed diplomatic engagement, alongside requests for advanced U.S. military aid such as Patriot interceptors. His goals include both securing armed forces support and escalating economic pressure on Russia. Despite earlier optimism, the conflict with Iran has diverted U.S. attention, slowing progress on the security framework for Ukraine.
The last formal meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump occurred at Mar-a-Lago in December 2025, where both leaders highlighted “great achievements” in their partnership. Zelenskyy noted U.S. security guarantees for Kyiv were “100% agreed,” though Trump left unresolved the issue of territorial concessions, suggesting some land might be negotiable.
Upcoming Discussions
At the summit, Zelenskyy will join a special session on Ukraine and engage in bilateral talks with leaders including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. His office confirmed additional meetings throughout the day, though it remains unclear if a direct session with Trump will take place.
