G7 summit: Zelenskyy joins as Trump shifts focus to Ukraine after Iran deal

EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France (AP) — Leaders of the Group of Seven major industrialized nations opened their summit Tuesday with a packed agenda, focusing on ending Russia’s war in Ukraine and addressing the crisis in the Middle East. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy joined the talks at the invitation of host France. The Ukraine discussions come after U.S. President Donald Trump announced an agreement to end the 3½-month-old U.S. war against Iran. That conflict had recently overshadowed the war in Ukraine, which Russian President Vladimir Putin launched more than four years ago. Trump said he had good conversations Sunday with both Zelenskyy and Putin. “Now that this (Iran) is finished, we’re going to be focusing on that,” he said during a meeting Monday with French President Emmanuel Macron. Macron said he will try to persuade Trump to continue supporting Ukraine and increase pressure on Russia to reach a peace agreement. Hours before the summit began, Russia fired hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles at Ukraine’s biggest cities, killing 11 people and setting fire to a religious landmark. Tuesday’s discussions also include a work session on “ending crises and ensuring stability in the Middle East.” Leaders of Egypt, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are joining the talks. Trump has been frustrated by the lack of progress toward ending the Russia-Ukraine war. While campaigning, he claimed he could end it within 24 hours of taking office but has since acknowledged it is harder than he thought. Ukraine officially started European Union membership negotiations Monday, a process that will require years of political reforms even as it fights the Russian invasion. Ukraine sees EU membership as a security guarantee, but the Trump administration says joining NATO is not possible. The Iran conflict has caused sharp disagreements between Trump and European leaders. Trump threatened to reduce U.S. troops in allied countries for their lack of support. Despite this, the tone at the summit is measured as allies seek progress that could ease the economic impact of rising oil prices from the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. European leaders issued a joint statement congratulating the U.S., Iran and mediators on the “diplomatic breakthrough.” They stressed the need for quick implementation to reopen the strait for oil tanker traffic. Macron said France and other Western partners are ready to act quickly to help reopen the strait peacefully. Trump downplayed the need for a large international military deployment, saying a few ships from other countries would be enough. The G7 includes France, the U.S., Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan and the UK. Other guest nations including Brazil, India, Kenya and South Korea are participating in some discussions.