US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Russia is suffering heavier military losses than Ukraine in the war, arguing that Moscow's role as the attacking force has contributed to its higher casualty toll. Speaking at the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Evian-les-Bains, Trump also signalled support for increasing pressure on Russia as Western leaders sought to bolster efforts to end the conflict.
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"Russia's losing more because they're the offensive ones," Trump said at a press conference on the sidelines of the summit.
Trump's remarks came as G7 leaders presented a united front on Ukraine, agreeing to intensify pressure on Russia's economy through stronger sanctions, including measures targeting Moscow's fossil fuel revenues. The leaders also pledged continued military support for Kyiv, including increased supplies of air defence equipment.
The final G7 statement reflected a rare consensus among member states on Ukraine and Russia, with leaders portraying the outcome as a diplomatic success.
"It was tough work but worth it," German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said, describing the statement as a "success".
French President Emmanuel Macron said there had been a significant shift in Washington's stance towards the conflict, suggesting Trump had concluded that Russian President Vladimir Putin was not genuinely pursuing peace.
"President Trump, like all of us, simply acknowledged that there was no serious willingness on Russia's part today to discuss peace," Macron said.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also highlighted broad agreement among G7 members on Ukraine, saying there was "a lot of convergence" and "no friction or divergence".
Throughout the three-day summit, which was attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump adopted a firmer tone on Moscow and expressed frustration over the continuing human cost of the war.
