French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky were caught in a bombshell hot mic moment at the G7 Summit.
The two appeared to be discussing whether Zelensky would meet with President Donald Trump, among other things.
After the leaders exchanged greetings, Macron asked Zelensky how long he would be in France for the G7 conference.
Zelensky appeared to say that he would only be able to stay one more full day, as he had to travel to Brussels on the 18th.
Then Macron asked if Zelensky had a ‘bilateral [unintelligible] being organized’.
‘With President Trump?’ Zelensky answered.
Tantalizingly, the chiefs of state spoke quietly for over twenty seconds before Macron rejoined more audibly, ‘Okay, we’ll arrange that.’
The two may have been trying to avoid being overheard.
French President Emmanuel Macron (R) greets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ahead of a G7 meeting
Macron and Zelensky appeared to discuss whether Zelensky would meet with Trump
Then Macron mentioned an upcoming G7 meeting before he and Zelensky again lowered their voices.
Trump has been unfriendlier to Zelensky than other G7 leaders, even dramatically booting him from the White House after a tumultuous meeting last February.
European leaders have been uncomfortable with Trump’s volatile second-term foreign policy.
Zelensky continues to seek the support of G7 nations (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the US) against Russia.
Ukraine and Russia continue to exchange drone and missile strikes over four years after their war began.
The Ukrainian touted a ‘multilateral meeting’ with G7 leaders in a post on X on Tuesday afternoon local time, thanking other heads of state for their participation.
‘Priorities are clear,’ Zelensky wrote. ‘More air defense missiles along with licenses to produce them, winter support package, and cranking up pressure on Russia. Importantly, the U.S. is ready to provide backstop across these lines of effort.’
Trump and Zelensky did talk during the meeting on Tuesday, and the US President said afterward that he thought Russia should make a deal with Ukraine.
Donald Trump, Emmanuel Macron, and Volodymyr Zelensky pictured during a G7 meeting on Tuesday
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio looks on during a discussion between Trump, Zelensky, and Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov
Zelensky shared photos on social media of his conversation with Trump and Rubio
Trump and Zelensky may speak again during the summit
Zelensky posted pictures on Tuesday of his conversation with Trump, showing US Secretary of State Marco Rubio looking on.
‘It is always important to coordinate positions,’ Zelensky posted alongside the photos.
Trump indicated he would speak with Zelensky again during the G7 summit.
