Trump signals swift return of sanctions on Russian oil as G7 refocuses on Ukraine

Trump signals a possible sanctions reset

Donald Trump signaled at the G7 summit in France that U.S. sanctions on Russian oil shipments could soon be restored, tying the move to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz after the Iran ceasefire.

The remarks pointed to a potential near-term shift in Washington’s approach to Russia, but Trump did not announce a formal new sanctions action at the summit. The comments instead suggested that the administration could move quickly if it decides to reverse the current arrangement.

AP reported that the United States had temporarily eased some sanctions on Russian oil shipments in March and later extended the waiver. Trump’s comments indicated that policy could be revisited as the summit moved back toward Ukraine.

Ukraine moves back to the center of the summit

The G7 gathering in Evian-les-Bains had been overshadowed earlier by the Iran conflict, but leaders were refocusing on Ukraine as the meeting progressed.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy attended the summit and pressed G7 leaders for more Patriot missiles to help Ukraine respond to Russian attacks on the country’s power grid and cities. AP reported that Trump planned to meet Zelenskyy for further talks.

The shift gave the summit a clearer Ukraine agenda again, with leaders weighing how much pressure they are willing to keep on Moscow and what form that pressure should take.

Allies push for stronger pressure

European leaders have been urging Trump to back a firmer line on Russia and to support direct talks between Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin. The summit has become a test of whether the G7 can move from general support for Ukraine to more coordinated action.

The Guardian reported that Zelenskyy thanked G7 leaders for strong ideas on how to force Russia toward peace and asked for air defense support and additional sanctions. In the same coverage, the outlet said Trump signaled the U.S. might reimpose sanctions on Russian oil.

The Wall Street Journal reported that European leaders used the summit to pull Trump’s attention back to Ukraine and that he committed to strengthening sanctions on Russia by ending oil-sale waivers. The reporting points to allied pressure for a more concrete sanctions package, even though no new formal announcement has been made.

What happens next

For now, Trump’s remarks amount to a signal rather than a completed policy change. The immediate questions are whether the White House or Treasury will announce a formal move, and whether the G7 will issue a joint statement on Ukraine or Russia sanctions before the summit ends.

Another open issue is whether the summit’s diplomacy leads to any direct Trump-backed channel for Zelenskyy and Putin talks. European leaders are also pressing for more action on Russia’s energy trade, including the shadow fleet that helps move sanctioned oil.

The stakes are significant. A renewed U.S. sanctions move could increase pressure on Russia’s war economy, while any broader allied package could reshape how coordinated the G7 is on Ukraine after a week that initially centered on Iran.