G7 leaders unite to pressure Russia: Trump pledges to restore oil sanctions while Zelensky lobbies for air defense

Trump changes tone on Russia

After a two‑month focus on the Middle East, the US president now says ending the war in Ukraine will be his priority.

Now that this is over, we are going to focus on that.

He met Zelensky privately for about twenty minutes and later told reporters he would do “everything I can” to stop the fighting, noting that “the only reason I get involved is I don't like to see 25,000 young people die each month.” He also stated plainly that “Russia should make a deal.”

Zelensky pushes for air defense

Ukraine’s president arrived in Evian on Tuesday and was warmly received by Emmanuel Macron, who then placed Zelensky beside Trump at the negotiating table. Zelensky showed Trump photographs of the damage inflicted on the centuries‑old Monastery of the Caves in Kyiv, struck by a Russian missile on Monday.

It's great that everyone understands that Russia will not win and that we must pressure Putin to end this war.

He asked Washington for a license that would allow Ukraine to manufacture US‑patented air‑defence missiles on its own soil.

Economic squeeze: oil sanctions return

The most anticipated announcement: Trump said the United States will soon re‑apply sanctions on Russian oil exports, which had been lifted earlier this year to contain the crude‑price spike triggered by the Iran crisis.

We will be able to do it because oil is flowing again. We removed sanctions because we didn't want to penalize oil, so we can do it.

Canada and the UK simultaneously unveiled their own extra measures against Moscow. The G7 also promised to deliver more air‑defence systems and military equipment to Kyiv.

Hormuz and Middle East

Over a lunch with Egypt, Qatar and the UAE, leaders welcomed the US‑Iran protocol accord and discussed reopening the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s oil exports pass. The US asked European partners to contribute naval demining capabilities. Participants also agreed on the need to diversify supply routes and to strengthen the Lebanese army.

1. Jun 14, 2026US and Iran conclude protocol agreement to end Middle East war
2. Jun 15, 2026Russian strikes kill at least 8 in Ukraine; monastery in Kyiv damaged
3. Jun 16, 08:00 AMUkrainian drones hit a refinery 20 km from Moscow
4. Jun 16, 10:00 AMZelensky arrives at G7, meets Macron, is invited to stay until summit ends
5. Jun 16, 12:00 PMTrump meets Zelensky, says he will do 'everything I can' for peace
6. Jun 16, 03:00 PMTrump announces readiness to restore sanctions on Russian oil
7. Jun 16, 06:00 PMG7 discusses Hormuz demining, Lebanese army support with Arab leaders

Combat front

While the leaders talked, Russian bombardments killed at least eight people in Ukraine on Monday. Kyiv struck back on Tuesday morning, sending drones that hit a large refinery just twenty kilometres from the Kremlin – a move Zelensky broadcast on social media to underscore Ukraine’s operational reach.