Ukraine war briefing: Sanctions waiver on Russian oil could end soon, Trump suggests

Donald Trump said U.S. sanctions on Russian oil shipments that were eased during the Iran conflict could soon be restored, signaling that the temporary waiver may be nearing an end as G7 leaders sharpened their message on Ukraine.

The comments came at the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, where leaders were also dealing with the fallout from the Iran crisis and the resumption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Trump tied the timing of any change to that return of oil flows, saying the waiver had been linked to the earlier disruption.

He also said Russia should make a deal to end the war in Ukraine. But his remarks did not amount to a formal policy change, and there has been no confirmed U.S. decision yet to end the waiver.

Summit focus shifts back to Ukraine

The summit had already moved Ukraine back toward the top of the agenda after the Iran conflict dominated much of the initial focus. AP reported that leaders were refocusing on Russia’s war and on what further pressure they could bring to bear.

Keir Starmer said sanctions are having a real impact on Russia and that Ukraine is regaining territory, adding to the sense among several leaders that the economic pressure campaign should continue. AP also reported that the G7 was aligning on Ukraine after the Iran crisis eased.

What Zelenskyy said

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the leaders told him Russia is not winning the war. He said the G7 also discussed additional sanctions aimed at Russian oil exports, banking and military production.

That makes the summit more than a show of support. It suggests the allied discussion is still centered on concrete measures that could hit Russia’s war economy, even if no new package has been formally announced.

The oil sector remains especially important because any end to the waiver could tighten pressure on Russian export revenue. Broader sanctions on banking and military production would add further stress on the financial and industrial systems supporting the war.

What is known and what remains open

The public record so far shows a strong signal, not a completed policy shift. Trump’s comments suggest the temporary easing of sanctions on Russian oil shipments may be reversed soon, but there is no written U.S. announcement confirming that change.

It is also unclear which sanctions, if any, are already under active consideration by Washington or its allies. The same is true for any G7 communiqué or formal statement spelling out new steps on Russia.

The next checkpoints are straightforward: whether the White House or Treasury Department confirms any change, whether the G7 issues a sanctions statement, and whether Zelenskyy, Starmer or other leaders add detail after the summit.

For now, the immediate takeaway is that Ukraine and sanctions pressure are back at the center of the G7 conversation, with Russian oil revenue, banking access and military production all under renewed scrutiny.