𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Keir Starmer appeared to rebuke Donald Trump this evening as he pushed for a new sanctions package against Russia and insisted that Vladimir Putin “doesn’t hold all the cards”. The Prime Minister is set to announce further sanctions against Russia at the G7 tomorrow as Sir Keir attempts to keep focus on the European war amid chaos in the Middle East.

G7 countries will confirm a further economic squeeze on Vladimir Putin’s brutal war machine, attempting to ratchet up pressure. This afternoon, Downing Street insisted that the existing package of financial restrictions on Russia is having an effect, but could not say whether new proposals will be backed by the entirety of the G7. The PM said: “The fact is – Russia doesn’t hold all the cards.”

“So, we should take this moment to increase economic pressure and show President Putin it is in his – and Russia’s 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 Russia’s energy revenues and reduce the funds they are able to pour into their illegal war.”

His comments stand in contrast to those by Donald Trump during his explosive Oval Office showdown with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, when he said: “You don’t have the cards right now.”

It’s believed the new sanctions may focus on Russia’s energy revenues, something the EU is also pushing for at the G7 conference.

The Government claimed to have new evidence that Russian state enterprises, including Rostec, Rosatom, Gazprom and Rosneft are facing huge financial challenges as a result of the west’s existing sanctions package.

It’s believed that sanctions have deprived the Russian economy of at least $450bn since February 2022, the equivalent of two year’s worth of funding for Moscow’s war effort.

The UK has so far sanctioned over 2,300 individuals, entities and ships since the beginning of the invasion.

However the G7 appeared hugely divided on Russia as Donald Trump suggested Putin could be allowed to return to the summit following his expulsion in 2014 following the invasion of Crimea.

Speaking at his first official meeting of the Canadian summit, President Trump said it was a mistake to kick Russia out a decade ago.

He told cameras following his meeting with Canadian PM Mark Carney: “The G7 used to be the G8. Barack Obama and a person named [former Prime Minister Justin] Trudeau didn’t want to have Russia in, and I would say that was a mistake, because I think you wouldn’t have a war right now if you had Russia in.”

He also said he “wouldn’t mind” bringing China into the group. A Downing Street spokesman initially refused to comment on President Trump’s suggestion, before saying that Sir Keir is “happy with the make-up of the G7”.

The spokesman rejected the characterisation that the summit is already hopelessly divided on Russia and the Middle East.

Speaking on the plane to Canada, Sir Keir couldn’t say whether he could guarantee unanimity on sanctions this week.

He said: “We’ve got President Zelensky coming so that provides a good opportunity for us to discuss again as a this group.”

“My long-standing view is, we need to get Russia to the table for an unconditional ceasefire. That’s not been really straightforward. But we do need to be clear about we need to get to the table and that if that doesn’t happen, sanctions will undoubtedly be part of the discussion at the G7.”

Today US media outlets also reported that Donald Trump will not be signing a joint G7 statement on Israel and Iran.

The last G7 held in Canada, in 2018, ended in chaos when Donald Trump tore up the communique and left early following a row with then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The Prime Minister is having his first meeting with President Trump tonight night, ahead of attempts to confirm the implementation of his announced trade agreement with the United States.

Sir Keir held a number of meetings with fellow leaders before the official start of the summit on Sunday, including a formal bilateral meeting with Italian premier Georgia Meloni, followed by an informal glass of wine with her, France’s Emmanuel Macron, Canada’s Mark Carney and Germany’s Friedrich Merz.