New Delhi, June 15 -- EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France - The words arrived with the confidence of a man who believes persuasion is its own kind of policy. Standing beside French President Emmanuel Macron at the Group of Seven summit on the shores of Lake Geneva on Monday, Donald Trump told reporters that both Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky want a deal on Ukraine - and that he, newly freed from the Iran negotiations, intends to deliver one.

"We had a very good conversation yesterday with President Zelenskyy and President Putin, and I see, maybe, we can do something there, I really do," NBC News reported Trump telling reporters at the bilateral meeting with Macron. "I think they're both open to it."

The statement was the most openly optimis...