Kathrine Frich
Trump specifically thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin
Global summits usually follow a tight script.
Leaders spend months preparing specific messages to show absolute unity on the world stage. But sometimes, a single press conference completely flips the expected narrative.
Changing the subject
The G7 summit recently wrapped up in the French town of Evian. Many officials hoped the gathering would showcase a united front regarding the ongoing war in Eastern Europe.
US President Donald Trump took the stage for a one-hour press conference at the close of the event. He abandoned the expected European talking points. Instead, he immediately shifted his focus toward the Middle East.
A senior European Union official previously told reporters that diplomatic progress had opened a new window. The anonymous official claimed the “Iran deal allowed us to pull the focus to Ukraine again,” according to reports from the summit.
The American leader shattered that hopeful assumption the very next day according to Kyiv Independent. He spent his time discussing Iran and actively praised rival nations for staying out of the way.
Praising a rival
Trump specifically thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping for their hands-off approach to the Iranian situation.
“I want to thank Vladimir Putin. He was very neutral. They could have made it much more difficult for us,” Trump said.
This public praise directly challenged earlier claims from other G7 members. Those officials had happily reported a major shift in the American approach to the Ukrainian conflict.
The president dedicated a mere two minutes to the war in Europe. He also casually noted that he spoke to Putin on the phone shortly before the summit began.
Playing the middleman
The president avoided criticizing Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky. He described their recent talks as a productive conversation, but he positioned himself as a neutral observer rather than a dedicated ally.
“We (sic.) had a very good conversation with President Putin and a very, very good conversation with President Zelensky. I think they both want to do something. They just don’t know how to do it,” Trump said.
To make matters worse for European allies, a highly anticipated second meeting between Trump and Zelensky never actually happened. The two leaders simply went their separate ways.
Trump left the area to attend a dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Palace of Versailles. Meanwhile, Zelensky travelled to Belgium. He plans to meet with the Belgian king and several European Union leaders.
Sources: AFP, Kyiv Independent
