Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said his G7 partners agreed that Russia was not winning the war in Ukraine and needed to come to the negotiating table, after they met at a summit in France on Tuesday (June 16).

Speaking in an interview with Reuters' Editor-in-Chief Alessandra Galloni, Zelenskiy said he had discussed getting more help with sanctions on Russia's banking and military sectors.

Although he said people in Russian President Vladimir Putin's circle were pressing for a larger scale mobilisation, Zelenskiy said many Russians "understand that they are not winning this war and that's why they have to stop this war".

Zelenskiy said he appreciated German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's suggestion of an associate membership of Ukraine to the EU, and said he understood concerns over a fast-track process for Kyiv becoming a member of the bloc.

"They want very, very understandable clear steps for everybody, but we are not everybody with all respect to everybody," Zelenskiy said, referring to Ukraine being at war with Russia.

He said if there was a delay in integrating Ukraine in the EU following any peace deal, Russia would be emboldened to frustrate Ukraine's attempts to join.

Zelenskiy said he was ready to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping to talk about how to end the war. "We don't feel that they are ready to pressure Putin ... maybe something will change", he said.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: EVIAN-LES-BAINS, FRANCE (JUNE 16, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT, VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY, SPEAKING DURING REMOTE INTERVIEW

2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT, VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY, SAYING:

“Really we had a very positive summit and we discussed the situation on the battlefield. What I am happy (about), what I wanted to share with everybody, that we (he and G7 leaders) spoke about battlefield, we spoke about negotiations with Russians, potential negotiations with Russians. We spoke about middle strikes and long range, the situation with Russian losses, economy, and etc. Good news, first of all, that yes, (Russian President Vladimir) Putin has to stop this war and I have unanimity from all the leaders and EU presidents. So we had the unanimity that Russia is not winning, losing a lot of people, and they have to make a deal as quick as possible."

3. ZELENSKIY LISTENING TO QUESTION BY REUTERS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ALESSANDRA GALLONI

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT, VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY, SAYING:

“A lot of people around Putin, they push him to the more big mobilisation, doesn't matter how much losses they will have, how many people will die. I mean, they don't think about it, but there is a huge percent of Russian people who understand that they… now they begin to understand that they are not winning this war and that's why they have to stop this war. Yes, I'm not sure that is really a human reason because if you have a lot of losses you have to stop. No, they didn't have to begin it between us, but in any way better later than never.”

5. ZELENSKIY SPEAKING DURING INTERVIEW

6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT, VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY, SAYING:

“So that the percent is more than 60% of society of Russia, they want to stop this war. And that's why we need more pressure on Putin.”

7. ZELENSKIY’S HANDS

8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT, VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY, SAYING:

“We asked also to help more (with sanctions) with the banking systems, with the banking system of Russia and also about the military sector of Russia, which also works not only in Russia. Yes, they have some representatives abroad. So we need to close it using sanctions. And also political pressure on Russia, and I think that (U.S.) President Donald Trump can do it, or only, maybe only him. I don't know, really. We will see what Europeans will do. I mean, this… of course, Europe wants negotiations with coordination with the United States. But we don't know all the tracks. Between us it doesn't matter. We need useful tracks to stop Putin. Now I think President Trump can do it and Europe also will do it.”

9. ZELENSKIY’S HANDS

10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT, VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY, SAYING (ABOUT UKRAINE APPLYING FOR EU MEMBERSHIP):

“First of all, Friedrich (German Chancellor Friedrich Merz) I'm very thankful to his support. He's on our side. He understands that Ukraine counts on fast track, something like this. I know that not all the leaders love such format, fast track because it’s… I mean this, they want very, very understandable clear steps for everybody, but we are not everybody with all respect to everybody. We are during the war and we need more creative steps, fast steps. We need it very much; otherwise, if to make a big pause - just I shared it with the Chancellor (Merz) and with all the leaders - if we will make after this war a big pause during our way to EU, everything will be like we have with NATO. Russia will find a way how to block Ukraine's way to EU. They don't want to see us successful.”

11. ZELENSKIY SPEAKING DURING INTERVIEW

12. (SOUNDBITE) (English) UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT, VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY, SAYING:

“Their (Russia’s) economy depends on China, on China's decisions. It's mean that China has influence, and of course we will be happy if they will help, but we don't feel it. We don't feel their mood; we don't feel that they are ready to pressure Putin, it’s mean to do everything to end this war, so we don't think… maybe something will change.”

REUTERS EDITOR IN CHIEF ALESSANDRA GALLONI: “You'd be open to having a conversation.”

“Of course, I'm very open to meet with President Xi, and our teams can work on it exactly to do everything what we can to stop the war."

13. ZELENSKIY THANKING INTERVIEWER