G7 Leaders Agree to Intensify Pressure on Russia

By AFP June 16, 2026 A meeting of G7 leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in France on June 16, 2026. Volodymyr Zelensky / X G7 leaders agreed Tuesday to intensify pressure on Russia to end its war against Ukraine, with U.S. President Donald Trump saying that Moscow should "make a deal." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky joined the world leaders at the summit in the French resort of Evian-les-Bains. The meeting brought Zelensky face-to-face with Trump, who has sought to reach out to Russian President Vladimir Putin but has also shown recent signs of losing patience with Moscow. "Leaders decided today to increase the pressure on Russia through sanctions on gas and oil," a French diplomatic source told AFP after the talks, adding that the leaders agreed there "is a dynamic on the ground that benefits Ukraine." The war has now lasted longer than World War I, and while Ukraine is seen as holding up well on the battlefield, its cities remain the target of deadly Russian strikes. French President Emmanuel Macron invited Zelensky to stay until the conclusion of the three-day summit on Wednesday to continue meeting with Trump and other G7 leaders. "Russia should make a deal" to end the war against Ukraine, Trump said after meeting with Zelensky, pointing to the high casualties on both sides of the conflict. "The whole thing is ridiculous. So, yeah, I'm going to do whatever I can." Zelensky wrote in a post on X following the meetings that Ukraine's priorities are "clear," including increasing its stockpile of air defense missiles, securing a "winter support package" and "cranking up pressure on Russia." "It's great that everybody understands that Russia is not winning, and we have to push Putin to end this war," Zelensky said during a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. On Monday, Zelensky had urged a "decisive and substantive" response from G7 leaders following a wave of Russian strikes that killed at least 11 people and ignited a fire at a historic cathedral in Kyiv. Read more about: G7 Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Russia Says Zelensky Made G7 a 'Propaganda Show' "We are certain that our evaluation of the G7... is shared by the majority of the international community," the Russian Foreign Ministry said. 1 Min read 'Unified' G7 Hits Russia With New Sanctions The U.S. and its G7 allies targeted Moscow's lucrative diamond trade and more entities linked to the invasion of Ukraine. 3 Min read G7 Presses IMF to Provide More Aid to Ukraine on Eve of Invasion Anniversary G7 ministers discussed fresh sanctions on Moscow and increased support for Ukraine on Thursday, a day ahead of the first anniversary of the Russian invasion... 2 Min read Ukraine Secures 1Bln Euros in Aid 'To Get Through Winter' Ukraine's Western allies pledged an additional one billion euros ($1.1 billion) in emergency winter aid on Tuesday, responding to pleas from President...