G7 tests Russia sanctions unity

Western leaders are heading into the Group of Seven summit in Evian next month with Russia sanctions back at the center of allied diplomacy. France’s presidency has set the leaders’ meeting for June 15 to 17, and recent ministerial meetings in Paris have already exposed differences over how tightly the coalition should hold its line on Moscow. A House of Commons Library briefing published on April 30 said sanctions imposed by the UK, EU, US and partners since Russia’s 2022 invasion have denied Russia access to at least $450 billion. Valdis Dombrovskis, the European commissioner for economy and productivity, said this week the European Union does not think this is the moment to ease pressure. ### How much pressure have sanctions put on Russia so far? A House of Commons Library briefing published on April 30 put the headline figure at at least $450 billion denied to Russia since February 2022. The paper said that total includes $285 billion in immobilised foreign-currency reserves of the Russian central bank held within EU and G7 countries. The same briefing described the sanctions regimes built by the UK, EU, US and other partners after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine as still extensive and in place. It said the measures have targeted Russian finance, trade and energy, while also raising concern among some commentators that coordination could weaken if allies diverge politically. (commonslibrary.parliament.uk) ### Why is unity suddenly in question again? The April 30 Commons Library paper said there has been a “notable shift” in U.S. sanctions policy during President Donald Trump’s second term. It said that, apart from some oil-related sanctions, Washington has not joined the UK, EU and other partners in imposing new wide-ranging sanctions on Russia, and in July 2025 did not support lowering the oil price cap. (commonslibrary.parliament.uk) Valdis Dombrovskis said on May 19 that the latest extension of a waiver on Russian sanctions showed G7 countries were not aligned on everything. “We are not always 100% aligned on everything,” he said in Paris, while still calling the finance ministers’ meeting a successful one, according to Reuters. (commonslibrary.parliament.uk) ### What exactly is Europe saying before leaders meet? Valdis Dombrovskis told Euronews on May 22 that the European Union would not ease Russia sanctions despite weaker growth forecasts and inflation concerns. Euronews reported that his comments came as Europe dealt with higher energy costs and broader economic strain. (usnews.com) A Reuters report from May 19 also quoted Dombrovskis saying, “now is not the time to ease pressure on Russia,” after the United States announced an extension of a sanctions waiver tied to Russian oil sales for energy-vulnerable countries. That placed the EU publicly on the side of maintaining pressure even as arguments over exemptions continued inside the G7. (euronews.com) ### Where does the summit fit into that dispute? France’s presidency has scheduled the 2026 G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains for June 15 to 17. The Elysee and France Diplomatie say France holds the rotating presidency this year, with the G7 bringing together France, the United States, Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, Italy and Germany, alongside the European Union. The University of Toronto’s G7 tracker shows finance ministers and central bank governors met in Paris on May 18 and 19, following earlier foreign, trade, development and environment meetings under the French presidency. (1lurer.am) Those sessions have already put Russia, trade and energy on the agenda before leaders arrive in Evian. ### What should readers watch next? (elysee.fr) June 15 is the next fixed date in this story, when Emmanuel Macron opens the G7 leaders’ summit in Evian under France’s presidency. The formal summit runs through June 17, after the Paris finance ministers’ talks on May 18 and 19 set out the divisions that leaders will now have to manage. (elysee.fr) (g7.utoronto.ca)