Trump Focuses on Ukraine War, Vows Sanctions on Russia After G7 Talks

U.S. President Donald Trump, on the cusp of a memorandum of understanding to end hostilities with Iran, is now turning his attention back to mediating the Ukraine war. He and other Group of Seven (G7) leaders have agreed to strengthen sanctions against Russia in an effort to pressure Moscow back to the negotiating table.

Speaking at the G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains, France, Trump responded to a question about future peace agreements in Ukraine by stating, "Russia must make a deal. Russia has lost a tremendous number of people, and so has Ukraine." He added, "Last month, they lost 35,000 people in total. That's 25,000 a month, and most of them are young soldiers, people just starting their lives. I will do everything I can" to end the war.

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Russia must make a deal. Russia has lost a tremendous number of people, and so has Ukraine. Last month, they lost 35,000 people in total. That's 25,000 a month, and most of them are young soldiers, people just starting their lives. I will do everything I can.

Trump also announced plans to reintroduce energy sanctions against Russia, which were temporarily eased during the period of de-escalation with Iran. He indicated that with the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz following the Iran deal, international oil prices would fall, enabling the U.S. to tighten sanctions on Russian oil exports. "Now that oil is overflowing, we can do that," he said. "We are in a position to do that soon."

On the sidelines of the G7 meeting, Trump held a private 30-minute discussion with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. European leaders present at the G7 summit expressed satisfaction with Trump's more assertive message towards Russia, a shift from his previous perceived alignment with Moscow. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz noted after the G7 meeting that he felt Trump was "very cooperative" and "listening very carefully," expressing optimism that "Europeans and Americans are now doing everything they can to end the war."

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Now that oil is overflowing, we can do that. We are in a position to do that soon.

French diplomatic sources confirmed that G7 leaders agreed to strengthen sanctions on Russian gas and oil exports. The G7 comprises the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan. Separately, Canada announced new sanctions against 162 Russian individuals and entities, described by Prime Minister Mark Carney as targeting "shadow fleet" organizations used by Russia for energy transport under false flags.

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I felt he (Trump) was very cooperative and I saw that he was listening very carefully. I am optimistic that Europeans and Americans are now doing everything they can to end the war.

The objective of these nations is to tighten Russia's war funding and compel President Putin to engage in negotiations. An Italian diplomatic source told AFP that "the goal is still to encourage a face-to-face meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin. It is up to Russia to show concrete signs of willingness for peace."

Russia, however, reacted sharply to Europe's closer alignment with the U.S. through the G7 meeting. Kirill Dmitriev, Russia's special envoy for economic cooperation, claimed on social media that "the poison clauses of the EU/UK warmongers trying to derail peace talks are too obvious. They are delaying peace by pushing unrealistic solutions."

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The goal is still to encourage a face-to-face meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin. It is up to Russia to show concrete signs of willingness for peace.