**Trump Arrives in Canada for G7 Summit Ahead of High-Stakes Meeting with Zelensky**
U.S. President Donald Trump has arrived in Canada for the Group of Seven (G7) Leaders’ Summit, according to a Kyiv Independent journalist on the ground. This comes ahead of his highly anticipated meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on June 17 in Kananaskis, Alberta.
**A Tense Relationship**
The relationship between Trump and Zelensky has been tense since their first in-person meeting in February, where they got into a heated argument over U.S. support for Ukraine. Their second meeting in the Vatican led to Trump reiterating calls for a Russian ceasefire and even threatening to impose sanctions on Russia. However, despite issuing several threats, Trump has not followed through on implementing additional economic pressure on Moscow.
**What’s at Stake**
The anticipated third meeting between Trump and Zelensky could signal the future of their relationship, as well as offer insight into the United States’ commitment to supporting Ukraine. Zelensky’s priority is to speak with Trump about sanctions against Russia, peace talks, weapons purchases, and U.S.-Ukraine economic cooperation.
**Concerns Over Commitment**
There are growing concerns over Trump’s commitment to ending the war in Ukraine. Last week, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the Pentagon will reduce funding allocated for military assistance to Ukraine in its 2026 defense budget. This has led Zelensky to decry Washington’s lack of urgency around sanctions, suggesting that Russia is “lying to Trump” and using peace talks to stall action.
**A Call to Action**
Zelensky emphasized the need for a stronger commitment from the U.S. president to take concrete steps forward in supporting Ukraine. He said, “There are steps forward we can take — but we need the political will of the U.S. president, if he wants.”
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