Trump: Ukraine War Has ‘No Impact’ on US as EU OKs Deal
ÉVIAN-LES-BAINS, France — President Donald Trump told fellow G7 leaders on Tuesday that Russia’s war in Ukraine has “no impact” on the United States “other than we sell weapons,” a remark that underscored deepening divisions between Washington and its European allies. The comment came as the European Parliament simultaneously approved a long-stalled trade deal with the US, in a day of stark contrasts at the summit in the French spa town.
Trump’s Remarks Deepen Transatlantic Rift
Speaking to reporters after a 75-minute working session on Ukraine, Trump said Russia “should make a deal” to end the conflict, noting that the two sides had averaged 25,000 to 35,000 soldier casualties per month. He confirmed he had spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday — his 80th birthday — and held a “very good” meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“The whole thing is ridiculous,” Trump said. “So, yeah, I’m going to do whatever I can.”
But his assertion that the war has no direct impact on the US marked a significant departure from previous administrations and alarmed European leaders who view the conflict as an existential security threat to the continent. According to The Guardian, the comment highlighted the growing rift between the US and its allies over the trajectory of Western support for Kyiv.
Zelenskyy’s Push for Support
Zelenskyy, attending the summit at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron, sought to re-engage Trump following the weekend’s US-Iran framework peace deal, which had shifted diplomatic priorities. After their meeting, Zelenskyy said Trump was “very positive that they can help us with missiles,” including the possibility of licensing Ukraine to produce Patriot interceptor missiles domestically.
“Priorities are clear: more air defense missiles along with licences to produce them, winter support package, and cranking up pressure on Russia,” Zelenskyy wrote on social media. “Importantly, the US is ready to provide backstop across these lines of effort.”
He also reported that G7 leaders were unanimous in agreeing that “Russia is not winning” the war, and discussed further sanctions against Moscow. Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, speaking to Euronews, said the key question was “whether we have President Trump as a ‘trump card’,” adding that “Ukraine is fighting hard. We can win this war — but only if we stand shoulder to shoulder with the United States.”
EU Parliament Approves Long-Delayed Trade Deal
In a separate but consequential development, the European Parliament voted 440-151 (with 50 abstentions) to approve the EU-US trade deal originally struck in July 2025 at Turnberry, Scotland. The agreement removes EU tariffs on US industrial goods while accepting a 15% levy on EU products exported to the United States.
The approval puts the bloc on track to meet Trump’s July 4 deadline, defusing his threat of new tariffs on European vehicles. As France 24 reported, the deal is worth approximately $2 trillion in transatlantic trade relations.
EU lawmakers introduced safeguards into the agreement, including an expiration date of end of 2029 unless renewed, and a “safety net” allowing the European Commission to suspend the pact if the US fails to meet its commitments. “This agreement is still far from perfect, but it is considerably stronger,” said Bernd Lange, the EU trade committee chair.
Centrist EU lawmaker Karin Karlsbro warned that the vote “will not be the last debate on transatlantic trade, but we have laid the foundation for stability while Trump continues to create chaos.”
US Signals Possible Return to Russian Oil Sanctions
Trump also suggested the US would “soon” reimpose sanctions on Russian oil, which had been waived due to the Strait of Hormuz closure during the US-Iran conflict. Urals crude has fallen to $67 per barrel, down from over $100 last month, following the US-Iran framework deal.
“We’ll be able to do that because the oil is now flowing,” Trump said. “We took sanctions off because obviously we’re not looking to impede the oil, so we are in a position to do that soon.”
Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced new sanctions targeting Russia’s “shadow fleet” and finance networks used to evade Western sanctions, signaling continued European resolve even as Washington’s commitment remains uncertain.
What to Watch For
The G7 summit continues with working sessions on the Middle East and international partnerships, followed by a gala dinner hosted by Macron. The coming days will reveal whether Trump’s remarks translate into concrete policy shifts on Ukraine aid, and whether the EU-US trade deal can withstand the ongoing tariff tensions that continue to simmer beneath the surface of transatlantic relations.
As Euronews noted, Trump’s latest threats of a 100% tariff on French wine over digital taxes demonstrate that the trade saga is far from over, even as the deal itself moves toward implementation.