US President Donald Trump has said he is ready to support Ukraine and increase pressure on Russia to end the war, but in return he has demanded that European allies help clear mines in the Strait of Hormuz, informed sources told Politico.

According to them, the US president spoke about this during closed talks held on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France. The G7 leaders made it clear that they do not refuse to assist in clearing mines in the Strait of Hormuz, but certain conditions are necessary for this. In particular, French President Emmanuel Macron, according to the interlocutors of Politico, emphasized that sending minesweeping ships to the strait is possible only with an official request from the US and the consent of the other parties involved in the process, especially Iran and Oman.

Although no agreement was reached on this issue, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed “optimism” after talks with Trump. As noted by Politico, before that, European leaders were concerned that the head of the US president could force Ukraine to make territorial concessions to Russia. These fears were further exacerbated after the recent phone conversation between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, the American leader unexpectedly announced that the US was ready to impose tough sanctions on the Russian oil sector again. Russia must sign an agreement, Trump added.

After that, the G7 leaders issued a joint statement, announcing their intention to increase pressure on Russia through oil and natural gas sanctions. The document notes that now is a favorable time to tighten restrictions, since the US has reached an agreement with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Also, the G7 leaders agreed to increase supplies of air defense systems, anti-missiles, and long-range weapons to Ukraine. In addition, the possibility of granting Kyiv licenses for their production on Ukrainian territory will be considered. Furthermore, the G7 countries agreed to strengthen Ukraine's energy resilience in preparation for the coming winter.