Ukrainian President Zelenskyy urges Canadian PM Carney to pressure Russia for a ceasefire as peace efforts intensify ahead of the G7 summit.
Zelenskyy Urges Carney to Ramp Up Pressure on Putin for Ceasefire
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on Canada’s newly elected Prime Minister, Mark Carney, to use Canada’s global influence to pressure Russia into agreeing to an unconditional ceasefire. The request came during their first in-person meeting, held in Rome ahead of the upcoming G7 summit in Canada.
Their talks reflect renewed momentum for peace negotiations as world leaders rally around efforts to end the war in Ukraine, which has raged since Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
High-Stakes Diplomacy Ahead of G7 Summit
The meeting between Zelenskyy and Carney took place on the sidelines of Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural mass and just days before the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, from June 15 to 17 — Carney’s first major international hosting role as prime minister.
“There can be no peace without the full support and participation of Ukraine,” Carney told Zelenskyy, reaffirming Canada’s backing without detailing what further support might entail. Zelenskyy accepted Carney’s invitation to attend the G7 summit, where Ukraine is expected to be a central focus amid broader peace discussions.
Rome Visit Highlights Canada’s Global Intentions
Carney’s stop in Rome is part symbolic and part strategic. As a practicing Catholic, he is attending Pope Leo’s installation alongside a Canadian delegation that includes Indigenous leaders, bishops, and 13 Liberal MPs, many of whom represent Catholic communities.
At the same time, Carney held bilateral meetings with key European leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. These sessions are helping to lay the diplomatic groundwork for the G7.
“Through our partnership, we can bring the G7 to a new level where we build on shared values and deliver prosperity,” Carney told Meloni.
Momentum Builds Despite Stalled Peace Talks
The Carney-Zelenskyy meeting comes as peace efforts struggle to gain traction. Recent talks in Turkey yielded only a limited breakthrough — a prisoner swap — while a broader ceasefire remains elusive.
Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump has announced plans to speak with both Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin separately, aiming to broker a deal to end what he calls the “bloodbath.”
Newly elected Pope Leo has also offered the Vatican as a neutral venue for future negotiations.
Canada Reasserts Its Place on the Global Stage
Foreign policy experts see Carney’s actions as a deliberate effort to reaffirm Canada’s international leadership. “This is about laying down markers,” said Roland Paris of the University of Ottawa. “Carney is signaling that Canada remains a committed ally to Ukraine.”
Jason Easton, a former senior adviser to ex-prime minister Justin Trudeau, said the G7 summit will likely serve as a platform to discuss a post-ceasefire framework for Ukraine, regardless of whether Trump’s outreach to Russia proves effective.
“Carney is seizing this moment to demonstrate that Canada can be both principled and strategic on the world stage,” Easton said.
Political and Personal Dimensions of Carney’s First Trip
This early overseas visit carries personal weight for Carney, who is traveling with his wife Diana and their daughter Cleo. But it’s also being used to project strength, stability, and international credibility for his new government.
After months of uncertainty and rhetoric from Trump questioning Canada’s role and relevance, this trip — and Canada’s leadership at the G7 — sends a clear signal: Canada is not stepping back from the global stage.
