On the sidelines of the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, President Donald Trump stated on June 17, 2026, that he had “good conversations” with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, with the aim of improving the situation in Ukraine.
Zelensky and his European allies used the occasion to try to convince Trump that the situation on the ground in Ukraine is improving, citing recent Ukrainian drone strikes deep inside Russian territory.
When speaking to reporters, Trump declined to say whether he holds Putin more responsible for the ongoing conflict. “Well, I don’t want to comment on that, because I’m trying to solve it, and it doesn’t make solving it easier,” he said.
Trump was similarly evasive when asked about the prospect of new sanctions against Russia. “We’re looking at it, we’re watching where the oil price falls, which is really collapsing,” he remarked.
Plans for a Trip to India
Trump also revealed that he had a “very good” conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stressing that the two countries are working on new trade agreements. He described Modi as a “tough negotiator” and said he plans to visit India “at some point in the future.” New Delhi has been working for months to arrange such a visit, potentially in the context of a Quad summit also involving Japan and Australia.
Trump reaffirmed the US commitment to stand by India in the event of an attack. “If they’re attacked, we’ll be there to help them,” he said, adding: “If anyone attacks this man, we’ll be there,” in a direct reference to Modi. He did add a caveat, however: “Now, if there’s a new leader, I’m not sure.”
For his part, Modi stressed that the safety of Indian sailors operating in the Strait of Hormuz region is a matter of “utmost importance” for New Delhi.
