G7 leaders agree to 'increase pressure' on Russia

The G7 group of leading world powers agreed to up the pressure on Russia to end its war against Ukraine through more energy sanctions, a French diplomatic source has said.

"Leaders decided today to increase the pressure on Russia through sanctions on gas and oil," the source said after a meeting at the G7 summit in the French spa town of Evian-les-Bains.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump said that Russia should make ⁠a peace deal with Ukraine, adding that he would do what he could to end the war after a "very good" meeting between President Volodymyr Zelensky and G7 leaders.

"I'm gonna do whatever I can," Mr Trump said.

Mr Zelensky and European diplomats hope to impress upon Mr Trump that Ukraine's fortunes have improved as Kyiv pushes for more support to strengthen its hand in eventual peace talks with Moscow.

"The ‌key focus is to strengthen air defence for ⁠Ukraine and advance diplomacy, to make Russia end its war," Mr Zelensky posted on X after the meeting. "Peace is needed."

European diplomats said the tone of the meeting had been constructive.

"We now seem to have joint analysis: that Russia is in the defensive now," the diplomat said, adding that Mr Trump had stayed until the end of the session.

European diplomats hope to convince Mr Trump that previous US positions on possible terms of a deal were overly favourable towards Russia, particularly now that Ukraine's drone incursions into Russia have improved its fortunes.

"The tide is turning ‌for Ukraine. The situation in 2026 is very different from 2025. Ukraine is bravely holding the frontline," 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."

Mr Zelensky is ⁠pushing for renewed momentum and a greater European role. He said yesterday he had offered to meet Russian president Vladimir Putin at the G7 summit. Mr Putin has ‌repeatedly dismissed the idea of direct talks with Mr Zelensky unless they are held in Moscow.

European leaders were also set to ⁠warn Trump that ‌a superficial interim deal with Iran risks entrenching Tehran's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes. French President Emmanuel Macron said the priority was to ensure there is a "solid, serious agreement that is finalised".

European allies fear that an inexperienced US negotiating team may fail to secure a robust nuclear agree mentor address Iran's ballistic missile programme in the next phase, potentially creating a prolonged standoff.

France, Britain and Germany want a role shaping the coming talks after being sidelined in recent months.

The three countries first engaged Iran on its nuclear programme in 2003 and later worked with then-US president Barack Obama to secure a 2015 deal in exchange ‌for sanctions relief.

Mr Trump pulled the US out of that accord during his first presidency.