G7 leaders agree new sanctions on Russian oil and gas, expand long-range weapons for Ukraine
G7 leaders wrapped up their summit in Évian with a commitment to tighten sanctions on Russia's oil and gas sector, expand deliveries of long-range weapons and air defense systems to Ukraine, and seize what they called the right moment after the US-Iran deal on the Strait of Hormuz.
New sanctions and weapons
In a joint statement from the French lakeside town, the leaders of the G7 democracies pledged to intensify pressure on Moscow. The sanctions will be sharpened, including in the oil and gas sector, while the supply of long-range weapons and air defence capabilities to Ukraine is to be expanded. The move is designed to reinforce what the group described as a "new dynamic" created by Ukrainian battlefield gains in recent months.
It is a moment of strategic awakening.
A shift in tone
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he had seen Donald Trump as "very cooperative" during the talks and, for that reason, was "to a certain degree optimistic" that Europeans and Americans would now work together to end the war. Merz called it a "day of hope" for Ukraine and suggested that, for the first time, a chance for peace might be opening.
That may perhaps open a chance for peace for the first time.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen struck a similarly positive note. "The tide is turning for Ukraine," she said, contrasting the situation in 2026 sharply with 2025. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer underlined a real consensus that the sanctions were showing genuine effect given Ukraine's success in retaking territory.
The tide is turning for Ukraine.
Concrete steps from London and Ottawa
The United Kingdom announced 70 new sanctions targeting Russia's shadow fleet, military supply chains and illegal financial networks used to circumvent existing restrictions. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said 162 individuals, companies and ships would be added to Ottawa's sanctions list. Both measures are aimed at choking off Western technology procurement for the Russian military.
Peace diplomacy re-energised
The United States has so far been the sole mediator between Ukraine and Russia, but efforts had almost ground to a halt during the Iran conflict. Now Germany, France and Britain want to inject fresh momentum. According to dpa sources, a new offer of talks to Vladimir Putin is being considered, potentially on the margins of the next UN General Assembly. European leaders insist they must have a seat at the table in any future negotiations.
Winter aid and air defence
Beyond weapons, the G7 promised Ukraine additional help to get through the coming winter and said it would examine licensing for a boost in military production. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who attended as a guest, thanked Merz for German and European support, with air defence reinforcements a focal point of their meeting.
