**Ukrainian President Zelensky Arrives at G7 Summit, Set to Meet Trump Amid Tensions**
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has arrived in Canada for the final day of the G7 Leaders’ Summit, where he is expected to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump. However, due to escalating tensions in the Middle East, it remains unclear if the meeting will take place.
Zelensky was greeted by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney upon his arrival at the summit, being held in Kananaskis, Alberta. The Ukrainian president stressed the need for more pressure from allies to achieve peace negotiations with Russia.
“We need more from our allies… We are ready for peace negotiations… But for this, we need pressure,” Zelensky said during a meeting with reporters.
The planned meeting between Trump and Zelensky has been shrouded in uncertainty due to the U.S. president’s early departure from the summit, citing tensions between Israel and Iran. White House spokesperson Caroline Leavitt confirmed Trump’s decision to leave the summit early.
Zelensky was set to hold his third in-person meeting with Trump, which could signal a significant development in their relationship and the United States’ commitment to supporting Ukraine. The two leaders have had a tumultuous past, with their first meeting escalating into a heated argument over what Trump described as “a lack of gratitude for U.S. support.”
Their second meeting in April led to Trump reiterating calls for a ceasefire in Ukraine and threatening to impose sanctions on Russia. Since then, tensions between the two leaders have continued to rise.
Despite issuing several threats against Moscow, Trump has not followed through on implementing additional economic pressure on Russia. Zelensky is expected to discuss this issue with Trump during their planned meeting.
**European Leaders Urge G7 Nations to Impose Harsher Sanctions on Russia**
Ahead of the summit, European leaders urged G7 nations to impose harsher sanctions on Moscow in order to secure a ceasefire in the war against Ukraine. “To achieve peace through strength, we must put more pressure on Russia to secure a real ceasefire, to bring Russia to the negotiating table, and to end this war,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Zelensky is still expected to attend scheduled meetings with other G7 leaders, where he will likely discuss issues such as peace talks, weapons purchases, and U.S.-Ukraine economic cooperation.
**Trump’s Commitment to Ending the War in Doubt**
Amid increased anxiety around Trump’s commitment to ending the war, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently announced that the Pentagon would reduce funding allocated for military assistance to Ukraine in its 2026 defense budget. This move has sparked concerns about Trump’s dedication to supporting Ukraine.
The summit comes at a critical time for Zelensky and the people of Ukraine, who are anxiously awaiting international support in their bid to end the war with Russia.
