G7 Leaders Agree to Intensify Pressure on Russia Through Oil and Gas. It Seems No One Objects
At the G7 summit, the leaders of the states discussed further actions regarding Russia and support for Ukraine. Judging by the words of the meeting participants, the G7 countries reached a common position that it is necessary to increase pressure on Russia and continue assistance to Ukraine, writes The Moscow Times.
Head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Photo: AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda
One of the main instruments of such pressure should be new restrictions against Russian oil and gas exports. According to sources in French diplomatic circles, agreement on this issue was reached after negotiations involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. At the same time, the UK and Canada have already announced the introduction of new sanctions.
According to the French side, the intensification of sanctions is facilitated by the reduction in global oil and gas prices after the peace agreement between the USA and Iran. This allows Western countries to more severely limit Russian energy revenues without causing a significant increase in market prices.
In addition to economic pressure, additional military support for Ukraine was also discussed, primarily the strengthening of air defense systems. Zelenskyy appealed to the United States with a request to authorize the production of interceptor missiles for Patriot systems in Ukraine, as the country remains vulnerable to Russian ballistic missiles. During the meeting, he also showed Donald Trump footage of the aftermath of a Russian strike on the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.
Zelenskyy's meeting with Trump took place in a positive atmosphere. According to Trump, the conversation was "very good," and further negotiations were planned. Before this, Zelenskyy had discussed with French President Emmanuel Macron how best to build a dialogue with the American leader.
The Ukrainian president stated that, in his opinion, Vladimir Putin does not intend to voluntarily stop the war, and therefore Russia must be forced to do so primarily through tougher sanctions. According to him, this position was supported by all G7 countries.
The possibility of reinstating tougher American sanctions against Russian oil was also discussed. Previously, the US had postponed their full implementation several times, but the latest deferment period ends on June 17, and Donald Trump stated that Washington might not extend it further.
Against the backdrop of these events, the overall assessment of the front situation has also changed. According to representatives of the G7 countries, Europe and the US are increasingly leaning towards the opinion that Ukraine's positions are strengthening, and Russia is not capable of achieving victory in the war. Observers note that this differs from Donald Trump's more cautious assessments after his meeting with Vladimir Putin in Anchorage in August 2025.
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