Trump Urges Russia to 'Make a Deal' at G7 Summit, Weighs Reinstating Oil Sanctions

At the Group of Seven summit in the French lakeside resort of Evian-les-Bains, the war in Ukraine abruptly reclaimed the center of the global diplomatic stage. US President Donald Trump, fresh off brokering a tentative agreement to end a brief conflict with Iran, declared that "Russia should make a deal" to end the fighting in Eastern Europe.[1][2]

The remarks followed a highly anticipated trilateral meeting between Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and French President Emmanuel Macron. It marked the first face-to-face encounter between the US and Ukrainian leaders in nearly four months, a period during which Washington's attention had been heavily diverted by the Middle East.[3][5]

"The whole thing is ridiculous," Trump told reporters, referring to the mounting death toll on both sides of the conflict, which is now deep into its fifth year. "So, yeah, I'm going to do whatever I can."[1][4]

To force Moscow to the negotiating table, Trump indicated that the United States could soon reimpose strict sanctions on Russian oil shipments. Those penalties had been temporarily waived by the US administration to stabilize global energy prices during the recent three-and-a-half-month war with Iran.[1][3]

"Soon we'll be able to do that because the oil is now flowing," Trump said, noting that the Strait of Hormuz is reopening. "We're in a position to do that soon."[1]

European leaders, who have shouldered the bulk of military and financial support for Kyiv during the US pullback, expressed cautious optimism about Trump's renewed engagement. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz described the US president as "very cooperative," adding that the unified stance gives him "a certain degree of optimism that we here, as Europeans and as Americans, are now doing everything we can, together, to end the war."[1][2]

Behind closed doors, Zelenskyy and his European allies worked to impress upon the US delegation that Ukraine's battlefield position has stabilized. They highlighted recent Ukrainian drone incursions deep into Russian territory as evidence that Moscow is vulnerable and not winning the war of attrition.[2][7]

During the trilateral meeting, Zelenskyy reportedly showed Trump images of the aftermath of a Russian strike on Kyiv's historic Pechersk Lavra monastery. European diplomats described the move as psychologically effective, noting that Trump expressed clear disapproval of the destruction.[2][7]

The reality of the ongoing violence underscored the summit's urgency. Just hours before the leaders convened on Monday, Russia launched a massive barrage of drones and missiles at Ukraine's largest cities, killing at least 11 people and setting the religious landmark ablaze.[3]

Despite the diplomatic push in France, the Kremlin has shown little public willingness to compromise. Following a phone call with Trump on Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly insisted that if Zelenskyy wants to negotiate, he must travel to Moscow—an offer Kyiv views as a non-starter and a stalling tactic.[6]

"Politically, Ukraine is ready for ending the war," Zelenskyy said during the summit. "Russia is not demonstrating any serious activity in any of those directions. Everyone else understands that everything else is just a game."[7]

To tighten the economic vice on Moscow, G7 leaders agreed to intensify pressure on Russia's energy sector. In tandem with the summit, the United Kingdom announced new sanctions specifically targeting the "shadow fleet" of vessels Russia uses to ship liquefied natural gas and oil in evasion of Western price caps.[3][4]

French diplomats confirmed that the G7 also committed to providing Kyiv with enhanced air defense capabilities. Zelenskyy specifically requested additional Patriot missile batteries and discussed licensing agreements to increase their production, which are vital for countering Russian ballistic missile attacks on Ukraine's power grid.[3][7]

While campaigning in 2024, Trump famously claimed he could end the Russia-Ukraine war within 24 hours of taking office. He has since acknowledged the deep complexities of the conflict, citing the "great antipathy" between the two nations' leaders, but his pivot back to Europe signals a critical new phase in the international effort to force a resolution.[1][6]