Trump Skips Zelensky Meetings at G7, NATO Amid Russia-Ukraine Conflict

At the 2025 G7 summit in Canada, President Donald Trump shocked Ukraine and its allies by abruptly leaving early and canceling a planned meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who had traveled to seek increased support amid ongoing Russian attacks. Trump also blocked a proposed G7 declaration condemning Russia, arguing that such language could hinder future peace negotiations. This move aligns with Trump's broader approach of seeking to avoid antagonizing Russia and maintaining open US-Russia talks, as reflected in his criticism of Russia's exclusion from the G7. Meanwhile, Zelensky was excluded from the NATO summit discussions, invited only to an informal state dinner hosted by the Dutch royal family, further signaling a diplomatic sidelining amid efforts to prevent the collapse of US-Russia negotiations. Despite intensified Russian missile and drone strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, Ukraine has managed to intercept most attacks. Analysts note that Zelensky's challenge is not only Trump himself but the president's competing priorities, including the Middle East conflict, which have contributed to a distancing from the Ukraine war despite Trump's stated desire to end it.