The United States could soon re-impose sanctions on Russian oil shipments after President Donald Trump and fellow leaders at the Group of Seven summit of major industrialised democracies moved on Tuesday to put the war in Ukraine back on top of their agenda, more than four years after the Russian military operation.

The Iran conflict has in recent weeks overshadowed Ukraine, but following his announcement of an agreement to end the 3 1/2-month-old conflict in the Gulf, Trump said he now wants to focus on Ukraine.

Trump said Iran will soon be “back in the rearview mirror”.

Asked if he would reinstitute sanctions on Russia that were eased to help lower oil prices, Trump said the restrictions can go back in place as more oil moves through the Strait of Hormuz.

“Soon we’ll be able to do that because the oil is now flowing,” Trump told reporters. “We’re in a position to do that soon.”

The US in March temporarily eased some sanctions on some Russian oil shipments as crude prices sharply increased. The waiver has been extended as the war in the Gulf stretched on.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy joined the G7 leaders for talks on the war in his country that wrapped quickly, as leaders gathered for just 75 minutes.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine is serious about peace while Russia toys with world leaders. “The entire ‘Seven’ supports Ukraine unanimously today,” Zelenskyy said.

The Russian side, meanwhile, is failing to show any serious activity toward peace, Zelenskyy said, calling Russia’s actions “a game”.

Zelenskyy added that G7 leaders supported Ukraine’s need for more Patriot missiles and discussed how to increase production by licensing production. Patriot missiles are able to counter Russian ballistic missile attacks on Ukraine’s power grid and cities.

As the US under Trump has cut back aid to Ukraine, France and its European allies are now the biggest providers of military and financial support to Kyiv.

In Evian, the French spa town close to the Swiss border that is hosting the summit, Trump downplayed the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war on the US but lamented the death toll.

“The whole thing is ridiculous,” Trump said. “So, yeah, I’m going to do whatever I can.”

Meanwhile, the UK announced a new set of sanctions targeting the “shadow fleet” Russia uses to ship oil and gas, and the finance networks used by Moscow to evade Western sanctions.

The ships targeted include several vessels recently purchased by Russia to transport liquefied natural gas from its sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 project.

Hours before the summit began, Russia fired hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles at Ukraine’s biggest cities in a barrage that killed 11 people and set fire to a religious landmark.

The attacks on Ukraine's biggest cities came after Zelenskyy and Putin spoke separately by phone with Trump on Sunday, the US leader's 80th birthday.

While campaigning in 2024 for a return to the White House, Trump claimed he could end the Russia-Ukraine war within 24 hours of taking office. However, negotiations have stuttered and Trump has since acknowledged it has proved much harder than he initially thought.

Ukraine on Monday officially started European Union membership negotiations, launching a process that will require its government to commit to years of political reforms.

Ukraine sees EU membership as a security guarantee for a stable future once the war ends. Its best guarantee would be membership in the Nato military alliance, but the Trump administration insists that cannot happen and others are wary of Ukraine joining while the war continues.

The G7 comprises France, the United States, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom.

Other guest nations at this summit, including Brazil, India, Kenya and South Korea, were invited to participate in some discussions. (AP)


Edited by Edmond Fong