The G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains ended with a rare display of allied cohesion on Ukraine, as leaders pledged to intensify economic pressure on Russia and accelerate military aid to Kyiv. Yet the most closely watched moment came after the formal proceedings, when President Volodymyr Zelensky disclosed a three-way telephone conversation with Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron. Zelensky described the call as an “important coordinating conversation” that “could change a great deal,” injecting a note of cautious expectation into a conflict that has long defied diplomatic resolution.

Viewed from European capitals, the summit’s final statement marked a concerted effort to draw Washington back into a collective posture. In contrast to last year’s fractious gathering, which Trump abandoned early, the leaders agreed to “increase the pressure on the Russian war economy” through stronger sanctions, including measures targeting Moscow’s fossil fuel revenues, and to accelerate supplies of air defence systems to Ukraine. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called the accord a hard-won success, while Zelensky singled out Macron for his “excellent organisation” of the summit and the sustained joint work that underpinned it.

Trump’s own remarks on the sidelines signalled a notable shift in tone. He confirmed a “productive” exchange with Zelensky and a subsequent “great conversation” with Vladimir Putin, suggesting that “something is going to happen” and that both leaders appear willing to move toward a settlement. In a departure from earlier ambivalence, Trump acknowledged that Russia is suffering heavier casualties as the attacking force and that Ukraine is “holding up pretty well.” Viewed from Washington, the comments suggest a president increasingly prepared to use American leverage to force a diplomatic track, though European diplomats remain wary of any framework that might effectively reward Moscow’s aggression.

Macron, for his part, noted that Trump had “taken note of the fact that Russia does not want peace,” a remark that highlights the persistent chasm between diplomatic overtures and the Kremlin’s battlefield conduct. Analysts in London and Brussels caution that while the G7’s tougher sanctions language and Trump’s direct engagement with both Kyiv and Moscow represent a tangible shift, the road to a durable ceasefire remains treacherous. The coming weeks will reveal whether the momentum generated at Evian can be converted into meaningful negotiations, or whether it will dissipate like previous peace feelers amid the relentless artillery exchanges along the eastern front.