G7 leaders emerged from talks in Evian-les-Bains, France, on June 16 with a joint declaration pledging to strengthen sanctions against Russia, including its oil and gas sectors, as U.S. President Donald Trump pledged to do ‘whatever I can’ to end the Ukraine war during a series of high-profile meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The G7 joint declaration explicitly named Trump’s framework agreement with Iran as the enabling condition for escalating pressure on Moscow. “We consider this the right moment to proceed with additional measures, as President Trump has delivered a deal that we support in reopening the Strait of Hormuz,” the statement read.
Trump, who arrived at the summit after signing a preliminary accord with Tehran, told reporters Russia had “lost tremendous amounts of people, and so has Ukraine.” He said he had spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday over the same subject.
Two European diplomats said Trump did not commit to imposing new U.S. sanctions on Moscow but signaled Washington was ready to let Russian oil waivers lapse now that the Iran deal had stabilized energy markets.
I met with Prime Minister @Keir_Starmer. The United Kingdom has taken new important decisions in support of Ukraine and introduced new sanctions steps against Russia’s shadow fleet. Thank you! All of this works towards peace.
I informed Keir about the consequences of the recent… pic.twitter.com/4kYoJBHaQZ
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 16, 2026
Zelenskyy held separate sideline meetings with Trump and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and with Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron. He said G7 leaders committed to supplying additional air defense missiles and granting licenses for Ukraine to produce interceptor missiles domestically. Zelenskyy said Trump was “positive” on the domestic production request.
I met with the President of the European Council, António Costa @eucopresident, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen @vonderleyen. I am grateful to the European Union for opening the first negotiation cluster for Ukraine and Moldova. It is important… pic.twitter.com/aRuw36QEBZ
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 16, 2026
“The tide is turning for Ukraine,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen posted on X. “Russia’s fatigue is openly showing. That’s the time to double down on our support.”
The tide is turning for Ukraine.
The situation in 2026 is very different from 2025.
Ukraine is bravely holding the frontline.
Russia’s fatigue is openly showing.That’s the time to double down on our support.
With the first disbursement of the €90 billion EU loan.
With a… pic.twitter.com/nRV2I9AByp
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) June 16, 2026
The trilateral meeting was the first direct encounter between Trump and Zelenskyy in over four months. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters American negotiators could come to Russia “soon” but gave no dates.
