Zelenskyy hails Trump as key partner as G7 pushes Ukraine peace deal

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has personally congratulated former US President Donald Trump on his 80th birthday, calling the Republican leader a “key partner” in securing a lasting peace for Ukraine as world leaders gather for the G7 summit in Toronto on Tuesday. The call, confirmed by Trump’s office on Sunday night, comes amid intensifying diplomatic efforts to finalise a framework agreement that would end Russia’s three-year invasion.

Speaking to reporters in Kyiv on Monday morning, Zelenskyy described the conversation as “very constructive” and said Trump had reaffirmed his commitment to supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty. “We discussed the final steps needed to bring this war to a close,” Zelenskyy stated. “The United States remains a cornerstone of our security.” The Ukrainian leader added that he expects “concrete proposals” to emerge from the G7 sessions, which begin at 09:00 local time on Tuesday.

Trump, who turns 80 today, used the call to reiterate his long-standing position that a negotiated settlement must include guarantees for Ukraine’s territorial integrity. “We’re very close to something historic,” Trump told reporters outside Mar-a-Lago on Sunday evening. “The Ukrainians are ready, the Europeans are ready, and we’re going to get it done.” The former president also praised Zelenskyy’s leadership, calling him “a tough negotiator” who has “fought hard for his country.”

The breakthrough follows weeks of shuttle diplomacy by European envoys, including French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who have pressed for a deal that would freeze frontlines along the current battle lines while international peacekeepers are deployed. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg confirmed on Monday that alliance members are finalising a security pact that would provide Ukraine with long-term military and financial support once a ceasefire is in place.

Analysts warn, however, that significant obstacles remain. Russia’s foreign ministry has dismissed the G7 initiative as “one-sided” and reiterated its demand for Ukraine to abandon its NATO aspirations. Meanwhile, Ukrainian hardliners in Kyiv have staged protests against any territorial concessions, arguing that any deal short of full Russian withdrawal would amount to surrender.

As the G7 summit convenes, all eyes will be on whether the framework agreement can bridge the gap between Kyiv’s insistence on full sovereignty and Moscow’s refusal to withdraw from occupied regions. With both sides under intense pressure to deliver results, the coming 48 hours could determine whether Europe’s bloodiest conflict since 1945 finally reaches a negotiated end.