The European Union and its allies are ready to toughen sanctions on Russia, French President Emmanuel Macron said on the sidelines of the Group of Seven (G7) summit on June 17.

"With President (Volodymyr) Zelensky at the G7. We stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian people after last night’s massive Russian strikes," Macron said in a post to social media.

"We are determined to increase pressure on Russia to accept the immediate and unconditional ceasefire that Ukraine is ready for," he added.

Macron attended the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Canada, from June 15-17. Global leaders discussed a wide range of topics, including Russia's war against Ukraine.

As the G7 leaders met in Canada, Russia launched one of its worst drone and missile attacks on Kyiv since it began its full-scale war against Ukraine in February 2022, killing 16 people and injuring at least 134.

"The common position that is emerging is to say, 'We need to strengthen sanctions,'" CBC News reported, citing Macron.

Europe is proposing much tougher sanctions than the U.S. has imposed on Russia, Macron said, adding that the EU is in "very close co-ordination" with Canada, Japan, and the U.K.

Several countries, including Canada and the U.K., introduced additional sanctions on Russia as the G7 summit was ongoing.

Canada introduced a new military aid package for Ukraine in addition to its sanctions against Russia.

"In our view, this has changed the situation because it will allow us to bring Russia back to the negotiating table, as (U.S.) President (Donald) Trump has been demanding," Macron said, according to CBC News.

Zelensky attended the summit and met with various leaders, including Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Zelensky left the summit early, citing Russia's attack on Kyiv. The nearly nine-hour-long attack saw Moscow's forces launch large numbers of drones and missiles at Ukraine's capital.

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha condemned the attack, calling it a "massive and brutal strike" timed deliberately to coincide with the G7 summit.

Zelensky described the drone and missile assault as "one of the most horrifying attacks on Kyiv."

‘He said he wasn’t going anywhere’ — Survivors search for missing following Russia’s deadliest attack on Kyiv this year

Sitting a few meters from the rubble of what used to be a nondescript nine-story residential building in Kyiv, Lilia rises to her feet every time another pile of debris is cleared from the site targeted by Russia during a mass overnight attack on June 17. “We are waiting (as

The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Denisova

US President Donald Trump has delayed support for a new round of sanctions against Russia, saying they are too costly for the United States and that he wants to see if a peace agreement between Moscow and Kyiv can be reached first. His position has caused a rift with other G7 leaders, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, who are pushing ahead with new punitive measures.

Trump says sanctions are expensive and not one-sided

According to BBC and Suspilne, Trump told journalists during the G7 summit in Canada that he was not ready to support additional sanctions. When asked why the US was not taking unilateral action, Trump said it is because he was “waiting to see whether or not a deal” could be agreed between Ukraine and Russia.

He also mentioned the financial burden of sanctions on the US economy as another excuse. Trump said that “sanctions cost [the US] a lot of money” for the US. “You’re talking about billions and billions of dollars. Sanctions are not that easy. It’s not just a one-way street,” he claimed.

Russia kills 14, injures 114 with missiles and drones in Kyiv as G7 leaders meet in Canada and Trump rejects sanctions (updated)

Politico also reported Trump’s earlier remarks at the summit, where he said Europeans should “do it first” and repeated concerns over the economic cost.

The US President left the summit early on 16 June, ahead of a joint G7 session with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy scheduled for 17 June.

Starmer and Macron back tougher measures despite US hesitation

In contrast to Trump’s position, other G7 leaders continued to coordinate new sanctions. BBC reported that the UK would announce a new sanctions package targeting Russia’s military-industrial complex. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the measures were being finalized alongside other G7 partners and would “squeeze Russia’s energy revenues and reduce the funds they are able to pour into their illegal war.”

“The fact is, Russia doesn’t hold all the cards,” Starmer said.

Trump again blames both Ukraine and Russia for failing to reach a peace deal

Politico reported that French President Emmanuel Macron remained hopeful about potential US involvement. Macron said he had discussed the matter privately with Trump, who, according to Macron, responded “quite positively.” Macron said Trump indicated he would not currently block new US sanctions proposed by Republican lawmakers.

“This is very good news for me,” Macron said.

Sanctions talks focus on oil revenue and financial pressure

The discussions among G7 leaders also included a reassessment of the price cap on Russian crude oil, which had been set at $60 per barrel in December 2022. 

The European Commission is proposing to cut the cap to $45 per barrel, while Ukraine wants a more drastic cut to $30. The UK’s new sanctions are expected to align with the goal of weakening Russia’s energy revenue, which continues to finance its invasion of Ukraine.

Putin counting on US fatigue to win what his army cannot, WP op-ed argues

The BBC also reported that Ukraine’s Western partners are seeking a stronger package of economic penalties, with the European Commission’s 18th sanctions package proposing restrictions on Russia’s energy sector, banking system, and transactions related to the Nord Stream project.

French President Emmanuel Macron has urged the United States to impose sanctions on Russia if Moscow confirms that it is not willing to make peace.

Speaking in Singapore ahead of the Shangri-La Dialogue forum, Macron said this would be “a test of credibility for the Americans,” according to BFMTV.

“If Russia confirms that it is not ready to make peace, Washington must confirm its commitment to sanction Moscow,” Macron told journalists during his visit to Southeast Asia.

The French president also said he had spoken with Donald Trump 48 hours earlier. “President Trump expressed his impatience. The question now is: what do we do with that? We, the Europeans, are ready,” he said.

Macron claimed that Europe’s position remains stable. “They are constant and they are reliable,” he said. “We have not changed. We still believe in international order, in cooperation, in open trade, and in respect for rules.”

On the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue, Macron met with Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. The visit is part of Macron’s broader diplomatic tour in Southeast Asia.

Macron’s remarks come as a second round of peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia is planned for early June. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed on 29 May that Russia’s delegation for the 2 June meeting will be the same as in the previous round. Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he is willing to meet Putin in person.

The US position remains uncertain. President Trump has considered additional sanctions against Russia. However, he recently said he would avoid them if they could “spoil” a potential deal.

French President Emmanuel Macron believes Donald Trump has come to understand that Vladimir Putin was dishonest about Russia’s willingness to pursue peace in Ukraine.

Macron expressed his view that Trump now recognizes Putin’s deception, according to reports from French television channel BFM TV.

 “I think that President Trump realizes that when President Putin told him he was ready for peace, he lied to him,” the French head of state said, while calling for the most durable ceasefire possible.

Speaking from Hanoi, Macron characterized the situation in Ukraine as unacceptable and extremely serious.

“One cannot say they are ready to discuss and then bomb,” the French president stated. “This double talk shows the inauthentic character of the discussions that may have taken place.”

The French president joined other European leaders in wanting to establish a deadline for Putin to implement a ceasefire, with the prospect of massive retaliation if that timeline is not met. Macron also noted that Russia’s war destabilizes both Europe and Asia, and expressed hope that Trump’s anger over Russian attacks would translate into concrete action.

Trump says Putin “has gone absolutely crazy” and kills a lot of people “needlessly”

Trump’s response to the 25 May Russian missile and drone attack that killed at least 12 Ukrainian civilians demonstrated a shift in his public stance toward Putin.

In comments to journalists, Trump questioned what had happened to the Russian leader, stating he was killing many people and that he did not approve of such actions.

On his Truth Social platform, Trump escalated his criticism further, writing that Putin had “gone absolutely CRAZY” and was “needlessly killing a lot of people.” The US president described missiles and drones being fired into Ukrainian cities “for no reason whatsoever.”

Despite condemning Putin’s actions, Trump also criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, saying his statements cause problems and demanding they stop. Trump characterized the conflict as a war that would not have occurred under his presidency, calling it “Zelenskyy’s, Putin’s, and Biden’s War.”

Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov described the negotiation process as a highly responsible moment that carries emotional weight for all parties involved and generates emotional reactions. He stated that Russia is closely monitoring all responses to the situation and emphasized that Putin makes decisions based on what he considers necessary for ensuring Russia’s state security.

Ukrainian scholar Valerii Pekar responded to Trump’s remarks by challenging what he sees as a fundamental misconception. According to Pekar, Trump’s belief that Putin was previously a good leader who suddenly changed reflects a broader Western misunderstanding about Russia’s political nature.

Pekar argued that Russia never functioned as a democracy, except for a brief transitional period after the Soviet collapse that lasted only until 1993. He described Russia’s political system as historically characterized by predatory authoritarianism, placing Putin within a pattern of rulers including Ivan the Terrible, Peter I, and Stalin.

The scholar warned that viewing Putin’s regime as a temporary deviation from democratic norms could lead to significant geopolitical miscalculations, as this perspective suggests the situation can simply be waited out rather than actively confronted.