Inside the 2026 G7 Summit: How a Photo of a Damaged Cathedral Changed U.S. Policy on Ukraine

The trilateral meeting (Trump, Zelensky, Macron)

On the sidelines of the summit on June 16, Trump held a roughly 30-minute behind-the-scenes meeting with Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron . It was their first face-to-face encounter in over four months. The three leaders also participated together in a formal working session titled "Building Peace and Security for Ukraine and Europe" . Macron credited the meeting — and the broader G7 discussions — with producing a "significant transformation in the U.S. stance" and a "realignment" on Ukraine . Politico later reported that Macron's orchestration of the summit atmosphere and Zelensky's cathedral photos worked in tandem to sway the American president .

G7 agreement to intensify sanctions on Russian oil and gas

The G7 leaders agreed to "increase pressure on the Russian war economy" and to strengthen sanctions specifically targeting Russian oil and gas — the main revenue sources funding Moscow's war effort . A French diplomatic source confirmed the leaders agreed to step up pressure through hydrocarbon sanctions . Trump separately signaled that the U.S. could soon reimpose restrictions on Russian oil shipments . The final G7 communiqué on June 17 explicitly committed to strengthening sanctions on the Russian energy sector . The statement noted that the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz following Trump's Iran deal made this the right moment for additional measures .

Trump's public call for Russia to 'make a deal'

After the trilateral meeting, Trump told reporters that Russia "should make a deal" to end the war . He said, "I will do everything to help" conclude the conflict . Bloomberg described this as a notable shift from Trump's earlier preoccupation with the Iran deal . European leaders also urged Trump to consider hosting direct Zelensky-Putin negotiations in the United States .

Kremlin's accusation of 'harmful ideas'

On June 18, senior Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov stated that European leaders had likely "pumped" Donald Trump with "harmful ideas" about Ukraine during the G7 summit . Ushakov claimed Trump was given misleading information about battlefield developments, though he acknowledged Trump is "a strong leader who sticks to his own views" . The Kremlin also rejected claims that Ukraine's recent operations had improved Kyiv's position .

Zelensky's assertion that only Trump can bring Putin to the table

Zelensky told G7 leaders that Russia is not winning the war and that additional sanctions are needed to force Moscow to negotiate . He publicly stated that only Trump has the leverage to bring Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table, expressing hope that direct U.S.-led diplomacy could yield results before winter . European leaders echoed this, pressing Trump to use his influence to restart peace talks .

Macron hailed the summit as a "success" and "a moment of unity," noting the G7 "acknowledged the territorial integrity of Ukraine" and concluded there was "no serious will for peace on Russia's part" .