Splits have opened up in the G7 approach to Russia after Donald Trump signalled his reluctance to impose more US sanctions on Moscow despite a European push to heap further pressure on Vladimir Putin.
The US president said he wanted to see whether or not a deal is done over the Ukraine war before targeting the Kremlin with further measures, insisting they would cost Washington a tremendous amount of money.
During an appearance next to Sir Keir Starmer, who earlier on Monday announced allies at the leaders summit would squeeze Russia with more sanctions, Mr Trump said the prospect of fresh action was not easy.
Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney (right) and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (Suzanne Plunkett/PA) Asked whether Washington supported European efforts to impose further measures, he told reporters ahead of a bilateral meeting with the UK Prime Minister, he said: Well Europe is saying that, but they havent done it yet.
Lets see them do it first.
Asked why he wanted to wait to impose sanctions, Mr Trump said: Because Im waiting to see whether or not a deal is done& and dont forget, you know, sanctions cost us a lot of money.
When I sanction a country that costs the US a lot of money, a tremendous amount of money.
Its not just, lets sign a document. Youre talking about billions and billions of dollars. Sanctions are not that easy. Its not just a one-way street.
His remarks will prove awkward for Sir Keir, with whom he appeared to announce the completion of the US-UK deal, after the Prime Minister said G7 allies would seek to target Russian energy revenues used to fund its war machine.
Downing Street would not expand on what the sanctions package was likely to include but said it would aim to keep up the pressure on Russian military industrial complex.
A Number 10 spokesman earlier dismissed suggestions that the limited detail about the announcement reflected divisions within the G7 on the issue of Moscow, which Donald Trump on Monday said should not have been kicked out of the former G8.
I dont agree with that characterisation at all, the official said.
Its just a point of fact that the G7 has only just begun.
The sessions are just beginning now, and it would be premature to get ahead of what those sessions will yield.
In a bilateral meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Monday, Mr Trump said the decision to oust Russia from the former G8 had been a mistake.
Moscow was expelled from the group following its annexation of Crimea in 2014.
Sir Keir said: The fact is, Russia doesnt hold all the cards.
So, we should take this moment to increase economic pressure and show President Putin it is in his, and Russias interests, to demonstrate he is serious about peace.
We are finalising a further sanctions package and I want to work with all of our G7 partners to squeeze Russias energy revenues and reduce the funds they are able to pour into their illegal war.
UK intelligence has assessed Russias forces as likely having sustained approximately 1,000,000 casualties since it launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, but it continues pounding Ukraine with drone and missile attacks.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to attend the conference in Kananaskis, along with leaders from Canada, the US, France, Italy, Japan, Germany and Britain.
Mr Zelensky has accepted a US-backed ceasefire proposal and offered to talk directly with Mr Putin, but the Russian leader has so far shown no willingness to meet him and resisted calls for an unconditional truce.
