Ukraine's Zelenskiy discuss ceasefire

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Sunday he had spoken to U.S. President Donald Trump and discussed efforts to achieve an end to the more than four-year war, ahead of a G7 meeting in France this week.



Zelenskiy, writing on Telegram, said he had wished Trump a happy 80th birthday and thanked him for the assistance provided by Washington throughout the conflict.



"I wished President Trump every success, first and foremost in his efforts to end Russia's war against Ukraine," Zelenskiy said.



Ahead of the G7 meeting in Evian-les-Bains, where leaders are due to discuss Russia's war in Ukraine on Tuesday, Zelenskiy said he had discussed with Trump the position of their international partners.



However, Zelenskiy has said in recent weeks that a shift in momentum on the battlefield in Ukraine's favour has opened a window of opportunity to reach a peace deal.



In an open letter to Russian leader Vladimir Putin this month, Zelenskiy also called for face-to-face talks to try to secure a ceasefire. The leaders of Britain, France and Germany said in a statement after talks with Zelenskiy in London last weekend that they supported his proposal, and Europe would play a role.