Zelensky to press Trump at G7

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday he hoped to press his US counterpart Donald Trump at the G7 summit this weekend to step up sanctions against Russia, as peace talks between the warring sides stall with the US president blaming both sides.

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In two rounds of negotiations in Istanbul, Moscow and Kyiv have so far only agreed large-scale prisoner exchanges. Russia has rejected calls to halt its three-year invasion.

Mr Trump has urged both sides to strike a peace deal and shown increasing frustration with both Mr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin for not having found a way to end the war.

Mr Trump displayed his irritation again on Thursday, telling reporters at the White House that “I’m very disappointed in Russia, but I’m disappointed in Ukraine also, because I think deals could have been made”.

Mr Trump has at times threatened new sanctions on Russia, which has ramped up its aerial attacks during the talks, but has so far failed to follow through.