President Donald Trump has hinted that the United States could soon reimpose sanctions on Russian oil shipments.
Asked at the G7 Summit if he would reinstitute sanctions on Russia that were eased to help lower oil prices, Trump told reporters that the restrictions can go back in place as more oil moves through the Strait of Hormuz.
“Soon we’ll be able to do that because the oil is now flowing. We’re in a position to do that soon.”
Donald Trump
The Iran conflict has in recent weeks overshadowed Ukraine, but following his announcement of an agreement to end the 3 1/2-month-old conflict in the Gulf, Trump said he now wants to focus on Ukraine. Trump said that Iran will soon be “back in the rearview mirror.”
The U.S. in March temporarily eased some sanctions on some Russian oil shipments as crude prices sharply increased. The waiver has been extended as the war in the Gulf stretched on.
Also, Trump said that Russia should make a peace deal with Ukraine and he will do what he can to end the war, following a “very good” meeting between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and G7 leaders at a summit in France. “I’m gonna do whatever I can,” Trump told reporters, adding that too many young men were dying on the battlefield on both sides.
“Look, Russia should make a deal,” he said. “I settled eight wars. This was the one I thought was going to be the easiest to settle.”
Donald Trump
Trump’s claim to have ended eight wars has been widely disputed. While campaigning in 2024 for a return to the White House, Trump claimed that he could end the Russia-Ukraine war within 24 hours of taking office. However, negotiations have stuttered and Trump has since acknowledged that it has proved much harder than he initially thought.
Hours before the summit began, Russia fired hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles at Ukraine’s biggest cities in a barrage that killed 11 people and set fire to a religious landmark. The attacks on Ukraine’s biggest cities came after Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke separately by phone with Trump on Sunday, the U.S. leader’s 80th birthday.
Zelenskyy Joins G7 Talks
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy joined talks with the G7, which includes the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan and the European Union. He also spoke to Trump and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the summit.
Zelenskyy posted on X after the meeting that the key focus is to strengthen air defence for Ukraine and “advance diplomacy, to make Russia end its war,” adding, “Peace is needed.”
Zelenskyy added that G7 leaders supported Ukraine’s need for more Patriot missiles and discussed how to increase production by licensing production. Patriot missiles are able to counter Russian ballistic missile attacks on Ukraine’s power grid and cities.
As the U.S. under Trump has cut back aid to Ukraine, France and its European allies are now the biggest providers of military and financial support to Kyiv. Zelenskyy said that he had received important commitments from the G7.
“More air defence missiles along with licenses to produce them, winter support package, and cranking up pressure on Russia. Importantly, the US is ready to provide backstop across these lines of effort.
“It is key that everything discussed be implemented. Russia must come to learn that its war will never be normalised. I thank everyone who’s helping.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Also, the Ukrainian President said that his country is serious about peace while Russia toys with world leaders. “The entire ‘Seven’ supports Ukraine unanimously today,” Zelenskyy said. He added that the Russian side, meanwhile, is failing to show any serious activity toward peace and called Russia’s actions “a game.”
European diplomats said that the tone of the meeting had been constructive. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen posted on X, “The tide is turning for Ukraine.”
“The situation in 2026 is very different from 2025. Ukraine is bravely holding the frontline. Russia’s fatigue is openly showing. That’s the time to double down on our support.”
Ursula von der Leyen
Yesterday, Ukraine officially started European Union membership negotiations, launching a process that will require its government to commit to years of political reforms even as it fights the Russian invasion.
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