G7 Threatens Expanded Sanctions on Russia for Ceasefire Failure

The G7 nations are considering expanding sanctions against Russia if it does not agree to a proposed ceasefire in the ongoing Ukraine conflict. While Ukraine has accepted a 30-day ceasefire plan, Russia has not committed, leading to discussions among G7 foreign ministers about potential economic penalties, including tighter restrictions on Russian oil exports and the use of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine. Concurrently, the Trump administration has allowed an exemption that facilitated Russian energy transactions through US payment systems to expire, further complicating foreign purchases of Russian oil and potentially increasing global prices. Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed conditional support for a ceasefire, which Ukrainian officials view as a tactic to delay negotiations. The effectiveness of the new sanctions remains uncertain, as Western analysts warn of their limited impact. Overall, diplomatic efforts continue amidst rising tensions and economic pressures on Moscow.