Anand announces new sanctions targeting Russian drones as G7 diplomats meet

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE – Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand announced more sanctions on Russia Wednesday as she hosted top diplomats from the Group of Seven nations in the Niagara region.

The sanctions, which take effect immediately, target those behind Russia’s drone and cyber attacks on Ukraine, 100 vessels in Russia’s sanctions-evading shadow fleet and two Russian liquefied natural gas entities.

“Canada will continue to intensify pressure through sanctions in coordination with allies and partners until Russia puts an end to its unjustified invasion of Ukraine,” Anand said in a news release.

The sanctions target 13 individuals and 11 entities. The news release said the move supports efforts by the G7 to ramp up economic pressure on Russia and is in broad alignment with similar actions by the United States, the European Union and the United Kingdom.

G7 foreign ministers met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on Wednesday morning after Russia again attacked Ukraine’s power grid and overran areas in the country’s south.

Nearly four years into the brutal war, Russian attacks have brought rolling blackouts to Ukraine as winter approaches. U.S.-led diplomatic efforts to negotiate a ceasefire remain at a standstill.

Anand said Tuesday the G7 meeting will reaffirm “our collective support for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s aggression.”

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has long been critical of Russian President Vladimir Putin. U.S. President Donald Trump, meanwhile, remains inconsistent in his approach to the war.

The June G7 leaders summit in Alberta was meant to showcase unity on top global concerns — but Trump left that gathering early, saying he had to deal with tensions between Israel and Iran. Ultimately, no joint statement on Ukraine was released at that meeting after pushback from Trump’s team.

Last month, after much back and forth, Trump approved new sanctions that take aim at Russia’s oil sector, which are set to come into force on Nov. 21.

Anand and Rubio had a meeting on the margins of the summit. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in a media statement that they discussed transatlantic security, the Indo-Pacific, Haiti and the need to reinforce supply chains.

It was not immediately clear if Anand addressed bilateral trade negotiations with her American counterpart. Trump suspended trade talks with Canada last month, citing an Ontario-sponsored ad campaign that quoted former president Ronald Reagan criticizing tariffs.

Anand is wrapping up Canada’s G7 presidency by making a case for multilateralism and shoring up new trading relationships in response to Trump’s tariffs.

Anand also invited Australia, Brazil, India, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and South Korea to take part in the two-day gathering.

The assembled top diplomats are also discussing critical minerals, energy security and economic resilience as Trump’s protectionist policies continue to rattle traditional alliances.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2025.

— With files from Kelly Geraldine Malone in Washington and The Associated Press