Macron says he’s still confident US will back further Russia sanctions

KANANASKIS, Alberta — French President Emmanuel Macron said he still believes Washington could back stronger sanctions against Russia, despite Donald Trump earlier suggesting otherwise.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada, Macron said he had discussed further sanctions against Russia with Trump, and the American president had reassured him that Washington was ready to take action.

"He answered quite positively," Macron said, adding that Trump had told him he would not, for now, stand in the way of new U.S. sanctions that are being proposed by Republican lawmakers. "This is very good news for me," Macron added.

The French president's comments came after Trump on Monday suggested he would not impose further sanctions on Russia because Europeans should “do it first” and “sanctions cost us a lot of money." Trump then left the Kananaskis gathering a day early, meaning he will miss a meeting scheduled for Tuesday between the G7 and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The European Commission wants the G7 countries to agree to cut the price cap on Russian oil — a key sanction targeting President Vladimir Putin's war coffers — to $45 from $60. Macron lauded that proposal.

"If, in the coming weeks, the Europeans and Americans jointly impose these sanctions, the situation will truly be transformed, because the ability of the Russian economy to resist will really be called into question," Macron said.