At the G7 summit in Canada, efforts by European leaders to persuade US President Donald Trump to tighten sanctions against Russia have failed.
Despite repeated private appeals, Trump remained unconvinced by arguments in favour of increased economic pressure on Moscow. While he has publicly urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine and has previously threatened further sanctions, no new measures have been enacted.
Sources present at the summit report that during closed-door discussions and a leaders’ dinner, Trump reiterated a long-held view that US sanctions are financially burdensome. This argument, Bloomberg notes, was met with disappointment by several of his counterparts, who had hoped for a firmer US stance in the face of continued Russian aggression.
European officials are said to be increasingly concerned about Trump’s commitment to coordinated Western action. While no direct confrontations have taken place, there are signs of unease over Washington’s reliability as a partner in exerting pressure on the Kremlin.
Diplomatic sources quoted by Bloomberg describe a strategy of cautious engagement with the US president. European leaders reportedly wish to avoid provoking a negative response from Trump, while simultaneously exploring independent avenues to sustain support for Ukraine.
The summit communiqué, to be released by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, is expected to affirm that Ukraine has demonstrated a willingness to enter into a ceasefire. In contrast, Russia continues military operations, necessitating sustained international pressure.
Officially, G7 leaders have characterised their discussions with Trump as constructive. However, behind the scenes, several participants privately concede that unity on sanctions policy is fragile.
The outcome reflects wider concerns in European capitals about the direction of US foreign policy under Trump’s second term. With Washington taking an increasingly transactional approach to international cooperation, some EU member states are now assessing ways to maintain support for Kyiv independently of US financial and military assistance.
This development comes at a critical moment for Ukraine, which faces mounting battlefield pressure and uncertainty over future Western aid. While the G7 remains broadly aligned on the principle of defending Ukraine’s sovereignty, there is less clarity on the instruments to be employed—particularly in relation to sanctions and long-term security guarantees.
Observers note that Trump’s stance at the summit appears consistent with recent signals from his administration. Although he has not formally ruled out additional sanctions, the lack of concrete action—combined with repeated references to their economic cost—suggests limited appetite for escalation.
In contrast, European governments—particularly those of Germany, France, and the United Kingdom—have publicly affirmed their readiness to expand restrictive measures against Russia should hostilities persist. Some EU diplomats now fear that a divergence in policy could undermine the overall credibility of the G7 as a coordinated actor.
Nonetheless, engagement with the US continues. As one senior European official told Bloomberg, the priority is to “keep channels open while preparing for the possibility that we may need to act more autonomously.”
This latest episode underscores the challenge of maintaining transatlantic unity at a time of shifting political dynamics in Washington. While G7 leaders have expressed unanimous support for Ukraine in principle, translating that consensus into effective joint action remains a significant test.
The final communiqué is expected to reiterate the group’s call for Russia to halt its military campaign and return to the negotiating table. It will also reaffirm the G7’s collective commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. However, beyond rhetorical statements, the gap between European resolve and American hesitancy appears to be widening.
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