**Ukrainian President Zelensky to Meet Trump at G7 Summit**
In a high-stakes meeting, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to discuss crucial issues with US President Donald Trump at the upcoming G7 summit on June 17. The meeting marks the third in-person encounter between the two leaders since Trump’s second term in office.
According to a Kyiv Independent journalist who attended a closed-door briefing with Zelensky, both teams are working to ensure a successful meeting. Zelensky emphasized that his priority is to discuss sanctions against Russia, peace talks, weapons purchase, and US-Ukraine economic cooperation with Trump.
**Sanctions Against Russia**
Zelensky stated that he wants to personally raise the issue of sanctions with President Trump, as the US has not yet imposed stricter price caps on Russian oil. He noted that Ukraine has prepared a “strong” weapons package to purchase from Washington and that only a presidential-level meeting can finalize this.
**Russian Offensives in Sumy and Dnipropetrovsk Oblasts**
Heavy fighting is ongoing along Ukraine’s northeastern border, with Russian forces concentrated around 53,000 troops in the Sumy sector. Zelensky confirmed that Ukrainian forces had successfully struck Russian positions in neighboring Kursk Oblast to stall momentum and split Russian offensive groups.
In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, small Russian reconnaissance groups briefly crossed into Ukrainian territory, likely for propaganda purposes. One six-man unit was eliminated one kilometer from the administrative border. Zelensky warned that Ukraine must not become a bargaining chip in larger geopolitical negotiations involving the US, Russia, and the Middle East.
**Israel-Iran War Hits Ukraine’s Defenses**
The recent escalation between Israel and Iran has driven up oil prices, enhancing Russia’s war financing through energy exports. Zelensky expressed concern about this development and urged Washington to implement stricter price caps on Russian oil at the G7.
He also revealed that US weapons previously allocated to Ukraine were redirected to support Israel ahead of its recent strikes on Iran. This was a significant blow for Ukraine, which had been counting on these missiles.
**Europe’s Indecisiveness**
Zelensky voiced concerns about a slowdown in Western diplomatic momentum, particularly around the “coalition of the willing” initiative led by France and the UK. He noted that Europe has not yet decided what to do if America steps back, and their energy depended on US resolve.
**Prisoner Exchanges and Prospects for Talks**
Zelensky confirmed that prisoner exchanges with Russia are continuing and that another round of direct peace talks with Moscow may take place soon after. The recent exchanges have seen Ukraine bring home a group of severely wounded and seriously ill service members.
Over the week, Ukraine and Russia held a series of exchanges under an agreement reached during peace talks in Istanbul. While no political breakthroughs emerged from these discussions, both sides agreed to continue exchanging POWs and repatriating the remains of fallen soldiers.
The June 12 operation followed a similar swap two days earlier, both conducted without immediate disclosure of the number of released prisoners.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story!
**Read More**
For further analysis and insights into Zelensky’s plans to meet Trump at the G7 summit, visit [www.kyivindependent.com](http://www.kyivindependent.com)
