U.S. President Donald Trump stated on June 16, 2026, that the United States may reinstate sanctions on Russian oil as part of a renewed pressure campaign against Russia by the G7 nations. The U.S. had previously suspended these sanctions to lower global energy prices, which had increased due to the ongoing conflict with Iran. Following a truce between Iran and the U.S., oil prices have decreased.
Trump made these comments during a meeting with United Arab Emirates President Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan at the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France. He noted that while sanctions were lifted to avoid hindering oil supplies, the U.S. is prepared to reinstate them if necessary.
The remarks came after G7 and European Union leaders met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine. According to four European officials familiar with the discussions, the leaders agreed to intensify economic pressure on Russia to encourage negotiations with President Vladimir Putin.
Trump also mentioned his meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, indicating plans for further bilateral discussions with Zelenskyy later that day.
Concerns had been raised by some European officials about Trump's focus potentially shifting away from pressuring Russia. However, an Italian diplomat reported that the G7 members were aligned in their commitment to increase pressure on Moscow, with an EU official noting positive U.S. support for Ukraine during the session.
Other G7 countries are also implementing additional sanctions against Russia. The United Kingdom announced new energy sanctions on June 15, while Canada revealed measures targeting 162 individuals, entities, and vessels associated with the Russian military. The Canadian government stated that these sanctions aim to impact the Russian war effort.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recently introduced the EU's 21st sanctions package, which focuses on Russia's banking, energy, and trade sectors, including a proposal to maintain a price cap on Russian oil purchases at $44 per barrel.