German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has expressed optimism that the Europeans and US President Donald Trump will pull more strongly in the same direction on peace efforts for Ukraine, calling the G7 summit in the French spa town of Évian "a day of hope."
"What gives us all reason for confidence is President Trump's formulation: Russia must end this war. And I think that is a clear message," Merz told journalists on the sidelines of the summit of the world's leading democratic economies on Tuesday.
Merz said detailed discussions had been held with Trump on the next steps and possible further sanctions against Russia.
It gave Merz "a certain degree of optimism" that the European and US sides would now work together to bring Russia's war against Ukraine to an end, he said.
Merz: Perhaps first real chance for peace
There had also been agreement on the desire to further strengthen support for Kiev while simultaneously increasing pressure on Moscow to bring Russia to the negotiating table, Merz said.
Asked whether Trump had given a commitment that he would back new sanctions and that the Europeans would genuinely have a seat at the negotiating table in future, Merz said this had not been called into question at any point.
It was fairly clear that Russia could not win the war militarily, Merz stressed, adding that Russia's economy was also groaning under the weight of the war and sanctions.
"That may open up, perhaps for the first time, a chance for peace," he said.
He had the impression that Trump was "gradually opening up to this assessment as well and is now looking together with us for a way to end this war," Merz added.
Merz upbeat on Trump
Merz was upbeat about the G7 talks with Trump. "I found him very cooperative, and I also saw him listening very attentively," Merz said of Trump, with reference to the talks on the Ukraine war.
Merz had previously said the talks had been marked by "truly great trans-Atlantic and European unity."
